/ ˈrætʃɪt; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
a wheel or bar with teeth along the edge and a metal piece that fits between the teeth, allowing movement in one direction only
■ verb
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PHRASAL VERBS
- ratchet (sth) up
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from French rochet , originally denoting a blunt lance head, later in the sense bobbin, ratchet ; related to the base of archaic rock quantity of wool on a distaff for spinning .