DETENT

[de.tent] n [F detente, fr. MF destente, fr. destendre to slacken, fr. OF, fr. des- de- + tendre to stretch, fr. L tendere--more at thin] (1688): a device (as a catch, dog, or spring-operated ball) for positioning and holding one mechanical part in relation to another so that the device can be released by force applied to one of the parts