Ratch

Ratch, rach, n. a rack or bar with teeth into which a click drops: the wheel which makes a clock strike: a white mark on the face of a horse.—v.t. to stretch: to streak.—v.i. to sail by tacks.—ns. Ratch′et, a bar acting on the teeth of a ratchet-wheel: a click or pall; Ratch′et-coup′ling, a device for uncoupling machinery in the event of a sudden stoppage; Ratch′et-drill, a tool for drilling holes, the bit mounted in a stock and rotated by a ratchet-wheel and lever; Ratch′et-jack, a form of screw-jack; Ratch′et-lē′ver, a lever fitted round a ratchet-wheel; Ratch′et-punch, a punch worked by means of a ratchet-lever; Ratch′et-wheel, a wheel having teeth against which a ratchet abuts, for changing a reciprocating into a rotatory motion, &c.; Ratch′et-wrench, a ratchet bed-key wrench.—adj. Ratch′ety, jerky.—n. Ratch′ment (archit.), a flying buttress springing from corner principals. [Rack.]