Pawl vs. Ratchet

Pawl vs. Ratchet — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Pawl and Ratchet

Pawlnoun

A pivoted catch designed to fall into a notch on a ratchet wheel so as to allow movement in only one direction (e.g. on a windlass or in a clock mechanism), or alternatively to move the wheel in one direction.

Ratchetnoun

A pawl, click, or detent for holding or propelling a ratchet wheel, or ratch, etc.

Pawlnoun

A similar device to prevent motion in other mechanisms besides ratchets.

Ratchetnoun

A mechanism composed of a ratchet wheel, or ratch and pawl.

Pawlverb

(transitive) To stop with a pawl.

Ratchetnoun

A ratchet wrench.

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Pawlnoun

a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward

Ratchetnoun

(by extension) A procedure or regulation that goes in one direction, usually up.

Ratchetnoun

A noisemaker or musical instrument where sound is generated by a board striking against a rotating gear. See gragger, raganella.

Ratchetverb

(transitive) To cause to become incremented or decremented.

It's time to ratchet up the intensity level here.

Ratchetverb

(intransitive) To increment or decrement.

Ratchetadjective

Ghetto; unseemly, indecorous.

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Ratchetnoun

mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction

Ratchetverb

move by degrees in one direction only;

a ratcheting lopping tool