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.

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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

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Etymology

Origin of escapement

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

Example Sentences

But it contained neither the tourbillon cage that surrounds the watch’s oscillating escapement nor the 30 percent additional power required to fuel it.

From New York Times • Apr. 9, 2024

“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 escapement goal is about 1,300 adults. 

From Seattle Times • Jun. 17, 2014

The descent of the weight is regulated by an escapement mechanism and, before the pendulum, it was the inaccuracy of this regulation that was the source of error.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton