lost motion

American  

noun

Machinery.

1. motion of a machine or mechanism, especially a reciprocating one, during which no useful work is performed.

2. motion between parts in an assembly due to manufacturing tolerances, adjustments, slip, or wear.

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Etymology

Origin of lost motion

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

It has over 15,000 parts, but so carefully is it made that lost motion is reduced practically to zero.

From Scientific American • Jan. 14, 2013

Ambidextrous, he has a knack of changing the ball from one hand to another at the last second and getting it in the clear without a bit of lost motion.

From Time Magazine Archive

The entire squad was under his command and in a very few days he had systematized their work to the point where there was scarcely a lost motion or a false move.

From The Boy Scout Fire Fighters by Crump, Irving

The small amount of lost motion between the Evener Plates and the cone belt, and the free movement of the belt shipper rod, which runs on rollers, make the action positive and steady.

From Illustrated Catalogue of Cotton Machinery by Company, Howard & Bullough American Machine

Now, it is obvious that the eccentric must be turned to the diameter at c, or otherwise it will have lost motion in the strap.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Rose, Joshua