— pulleyless , adj.
/pool"ee/ , n. , pl. pulleys .
1. a wheel, with a grooved rim for carrying a line, that turns in a frame or block and serves to change the direction of or to transmit force, as when one end of the line is pulled to raise a weight at the other end: one of the simple machines.
2. a combination of such wheels in a block, or of such wheels or blocks in a tackle, to increase the force applied.
3. a wheel driven by or driving a belt or the like, used to deliver force to a machine, another belt, etc., at a certain speed and torque.
[ 1275-1325; ME poley, puly polie polídion little pivot, equiv. to pól ( os ) POLE 2 + -idion dim. suffix ]