stemwinder

or stem-wind·er

[ stem-wahyn-der ]

noun

1. a stemwinding watch.
2. Older Slang.
   1. something remarkable of its kind.
   2. a rousing speech, especially a stirring political address.
   3. a stirring orator.

Word History and Origins

Origin of stemwinder¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70; stem ¹ + winder

Example Sentences

The usual parade of star elected officials sauntered past, but this time most opted to forgo the standard stemwinder for a tight five.

From Salon

Trump’s closing-night speech on Thursday — rumored to be a lengthy stemwinder on a 19th-century scale — will no doubt be intended to rouse and unite the GOP faithful and send them forth to victory over whatever forces they believe are oppressing them.

From Salon

From the outset of the hearing, Mr. Rhodes’ lawyers — Phillip Linder and James L. Bright — were constrained in their efforts to ask for leniency, unable to fully claim that Mr. Rhodes was remorseful or no longer presented a threat to the government, knowing that his stemwinder statement to the court was coming.

From New York Times

His rhetoric during his now-typical stemwinder wasn't just whiny, but downright Koresh-like in its apocalyptic tones.

From Salon

“Pat and I made a point of working as partners. He always knew the right time to break up tense negotiations with a stemwinder of an old Irish joke,” McConnell said last month in a tribute speech.

From Washington Post