Associations to the word «Detent»

Wiktionary

DETENT, noun. 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.
DETENT, verb. The action of creating a detent mechanism to lock or unlock movement.

Dictionary definition

DETENT, noun. A hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward.

Wise words

The chief virtue that language can have is clearness, and nothing detracts from it so much as the use of unfamiliar words.
Hippocrates