ratchet wheel

noun

1. a wheel, with teeth on the edge, into which a pawl drops or catches, as to prevent reversal of motion or convert reciprocating motion into rotatory motion.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ratchet wheel¹

First recorded in 1770–80

Example Sentences

When the tympanum vibrates under the influence of the voice, the stylus acts as a pawl and turns a ratchet-wheel.

From Project Gutenberg

SB is the primitive radius of the club tooth wheel, but both primitive and real radius of the ratchet wheel.

From Project Gutenberg

On the pendulum he had a little ratchet wheel, R, having thirty teeth.

From Project Gutenberg

On the side of the clock case was a contact maker, which closed the circuit by the pin on the ratchet wheel, R, once every minute.

From Project Gutenberg

An' this ratchet-wheel isn't on the pawl prop'ly—not like what this book says it ought to be.

From Project Gutenberg