DETENT


Meaning of DETENT in English

[ dɪ'tɛnt ]

■ noun a catch in a machine which prevents motion until released.

↘(in a clock) a catch that regulates striking.

Origin

C17: from Fr. détente , from OFr. destente , from destendre 'slacken'.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.