detent

2 definitions found

detent - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Detent \De*tent"\, n. [F. d['e]tente, fr. d['e]tendre to unbend,
     relax; pref. d['e]- (L. dis- or de) + tendre to stretch. See
     Distend.] (Mech.)
     That which locks or unlocks a movement; a catch, pawl, or
     dog; especially, in clockwork, the catch which locks and
     unlocks the wheelwork in striking.
     [1913 Webster]

detent - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  detent
      n 1: a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move
           a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward [syn:
           pawl, detent, click, dog]