RATCHET

I. noun also rachet see: rock Date: 1654 a mechanism that consists of a bar or wheel having inclined teeth into which a pawl drops so that motion can be imparted to the wheel or bar, governed, or prevented and that is used in a hand tool (as a wrench or screwdriver) to allow effective motion in one direction only, a pawl or detent for holding or propelling a toothed wheel, II. verb also rachet Date: 1972 transitive verb to cause to move by steps or degrees, intransitive verb to proceed by steps or degrees