escapement

American  

[ih-skeyp-muhnt] / ɪˈskeɪp mənt /

noun

1. Horology. the portion of a watch or clock that measures beats and controls the speed of the going train.

2. a mechanism for regulating the motion of a typewriter carriage, consisting of pawls and a toothed wheel or rack.

3. a mechanism in a piano that causes a hammer to fall back into rest position immediately after striking a string.

4. an act of escaping.

5. Archaic. a way of escape; outlet.

---

escapement British  

/ ɪˈskeɪpmənt /

noun

1. horology a mechanism consisting of an escape wheel and anchor, used in timepieces to provide periodic impulses to the pendulum or balance

2. any similar mechanism that regulates movement, usually consisting of toothed wheels engaged by rocking levers

3. (in a piano) the mechanism that allows the hammer to clear the string after striking, so that the string can vibrate

4. an overflow channel

5. rare an act or means of escaping

---

Etymology

Origin of escapement

1730–40; escape + -ment (calque of French échappement

Example Sentences

“I took it to Performance Pattern where they did a digital scan, then we cast a new escapement in aluminum bronze,” he said.

From Washington Times • Jan. 9, 2017

For instance, the new federal rules for the Gulf of Mexico require permit holders to report to the government only “major escapement events”, defined as 10% or more of cultured fish escaping from a pen.

From The Guardian • Sep. 25, 2016

The hatchery spring Chinook escapement goal is about 1,300 adults. 

From Seattle Times • May 10, 2016

It is intended to be the first member of a family of movements incorporating both the DIAMonSIL escapement and an adjustable oscillator fitted with a silicium hairspring.

From New York Times • Nov. 23, 2012

Even after this, he thought up an idea for an escapement for a pendulum clock, which he described to his son Vincenzio, who actually built such a clock after Galileo died.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin