2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ratchet  \Ratch"et\,  n.  [Properly  a  diminutive  from  the  same  word 
  as  rack:  cf  F.  rochet.  See  2d  {Ratch},  {Rack}  the 
  instrument.] 
  1.  A  pawl,  click  or  detent,  for  holding  or  propelling  a 
  ratchet  wheel,  or  ratch,  etc 
 
  2.  A  mechanism  composed  of  a  ratchet  wheel,  or  ratch,  and 
  pawl.  See  {Ratchet  wheel},  below,  and  2d  {Ratch}. 
 
  {Ratchet  brace}  (Mech.),  a  boring  brace,  having  a  ratchet 
  wheel  and  pawl  for  rotating  the  tool  by  back  and  forth 
  movements  of  the  brace  handle. 
 
  {Ratchet  drill},  a  portable  machine  for  working  a  drill  by 
  hand,  consisting  of  a  hand  lever  carrying  at  one  end  a 
  drill  holder  which  is  revolved  by  means  of  a  ratchet  wheel 
  and  pawl,  by  swinging  the  lever  back  and  forth. 
 
  {Ratchet  wheel}  (Mach.),  a  circular  wheel  having  teeth, 
  usually  angular,  with  which  a  reciprocating  pawl  engages 
  to  turn  the  wheel  forward,  or  a  stationary  pawl  to  hold  it 
  from  turning  backward. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  ratchet 
  n  :  a  toothed  wheel  or  rack  engaged  with  a  pawl  that  permits  it 
  to  move  in  only  one  direction  [syn:  {rachet},  {ratch}] 
  v  :  move  by  degrees  in  one  direction  only,  as  of  toothed  wheels 
  [syn:  {rachet  up},  {ratchet  down}] 

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