Ratchet

n.	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.

Noun	1.	ratchet - mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction Synonyms: rachet, ratch
Verb	1.	ratchet - move by degrees in one direction only; "a ratcheting lopping tool" Synonyms: rachet up, ratchet down

cog, comb, crag, fang, harrow, jag, peak, pecten, projection, rake, sawtooth, snag, snaggle, spire, sprocket, spur, steeple, tooth

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