What is "ratchet"

Ratchet \Ratch"et\ (-[e^]t), n. [Properly a diminutive from the same word as rack: cf. F. rochet. See 2d Ratch, Rack the instrument.]

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.

   Note: In the cut, the moving pawl c slides over the teeth in one direction, but in returning, draws the wheel with it, while the pawl d prevents it from turning in the contrary direction.

1852, from ratchet (n.). Transferred sense attested by 1977. Related: Ratcheted; ratcheting.

1650s, rochet, from French rochet "bobbin, spindle," from Italian rocchetto "spool, ratchet," diminutive of rocca "distaff," possibly from a Germanic source (compare Old High German rocko "distaff," Old Norse rokkr), from Proto-Germanic *rukka-, from PIE root *ruk- "fabric, spun yarn." Compare rocket (n.2). Current spelling in English dates from 1721, influenced by synonymous ratch, which perhaps is borrowed from German Rätsche "ratchet."

1. (context US slang English) ghetto (unseemly and indecorous) 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. 3 A ratchet wrench. 4 (''analogous'') A procedure or regulation that goes in one direction, usually up. v

2. 1 (context transitive English) To cause to become incremented or decremented. 2 (context intransitive English) To increment or decrement.

n. mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction [syn: rachet, ratch]

v. move by degrees in one direction only; "a ratcheting lopping tool" [syn: rachet up, ratchet down]

Ratchet may refer to:

A ratchet is a mechanical device that allows continuous linear or rotary motion in only one direction while preventing motion in the opposite direction. Ratchets are widely used in machinery and tools. Though something of a misnomer, "ratchet" is also often used to refer to ratcheting socket wrenches, a common tool with a ratcheting handle.

Ratchet is the protagonist of the Ratchet & Clank video game series. In the English versions of the games, Ratchet is voiced by Mikey Kelley in the first Ratchet & Clank, and by James Arnold Taylor since. In the Japanese versions, he is voiced by Makoto Tsumura.

Ratchet is the name of several characters in the Transformers franchise. According to the original creator of the Transformers names, Bob Budiansky, Ratchet was named after the character of Nurse Ratched from the film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The name Ratchet is almost always portrayed as an Autobot medic who turns into an ambulance. Ratchet is sometimes referred to by the trademarked names "Autobot Ratchet" or "Rescue Ratchet."

"Ratchet" is a song by English rock band Bloc Party. The song was released on 25 June 2013 as the lead single from the band's third EP The Nextwave Sessions. The song was given its first radio play by Zane Lowe on BBC Radio 1. A music video for the song was also uploaded to the band's Vevo channel on YouTube on the same day of the song's release. The song was featured in the soundtrack for the video game FIFA 14.

Ratchet is the 2015 debut studio album by American singer, songwriter Shamir, released on May 19, 2015 on XL Recordings.

The debut single from the album, " Call It Off", was released in March 2015 while the album itself was released on May 19, 2015. The music video for "Call It Off" was produced and released as part of the 2015 YouTube Music Awards.

The album's second single, " Darker", was released in May 2015.

" On the Regular" is also included on the album.

A ratchet, also called a noisemaker (or, when used in Judaism, a gragger or grogger ( etymologically from ), raganella or ra'ashan ), is an orchestral musical instrument played by percussionists. Operating on the principle of the ratchet device, a gearwheel and a stiff board is mounted on a handle, which rotates freely.

The player holds the handle and swings the whole mechanism around. The momentum makes the board click against the gearwheel, producing a clicking and rattling noise. A popular design consists of a thick wooden cog wheel attached to a handle and two wooden flanges that alternately hit the teeth of the cog when the handle turns. Alternatively, smaller ratchets are sometimes held still or mounted and the handle turned rapidly by the player. The mounted ratchets allow for greater control of the duration and timing of the sound. This allows the ratchet to be used like a snare drum, placing sustained rolls in precise durations of time. Dynamics are controlled by the rate at which the ratchet is rotated.

The ratchet is similar to a football rattle, which is sometimes used in its place when a particularly loud sound is needed. It is used in, for example, Richard Strauss's piece Till Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks and Arnold Schoenberg's Gurre-Lieder. In the 18th and 19th centuries, a similar device called a policeman's rattle was used by British and Australian policemen to summon assistance. They also used the device during the Second World War, to warn of the presence of poison gas.

Ratchet is a slang term in hip hop that in the strictest sense refers to an uncouth African-American female, although the term has multiple meanings and connotations and is not bound by race or gender. The term gained popularity in 2012 through music artists and celebrities. It has been used similarly as the word “ghetto”. "Ratchet" can be used as an adjective, noun, or verb. The word has evolved to have many different meanings, and it can have either a positive or negative connotation. Some African-American women have reappropriated the word and embrace the meaning, whereas others point to how the term reinforces the negative portrayal of African-American women in the media.

Numerous music artists have referred to the term “ratchet” in their songs. In November 2012, LL Cool J released a single called “Ratchet” . In December 2012, Beyoncé posted a picture of her wearing earrings that contained the word “ratchet” in it. Juicy J, Lil Debbie, Cam’ron, Future, and Lil’ Boosie are some other artists who have also used the term in their music. Miley Cyrus had been criticized by some as appropriating ratchet culture.

The word ratchet first appeared in publication in 1999, with the song “Do the Ratchet” by Anthony Mandigo from Shreveport, Louisiana. Mandigo reportedly learned the term from his grandmother. In 2004, a new version of the song was recorded. The producer of the song named Earl Williams, also known as Phunk Dawg, wrote the definition in the CD liner notes: “n., pron., v, adv., 1. To be ghetto, real, gutter, nasty. 2. It’s whatever, bout it, etc.”