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

Escapement goal for Cowlitz is 1,718 for hatchery brood and 2,000 to the upper watershed.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 21, 2011

The Movement combines many patented devices, including American Lever, Lantern Pinion, Patent Escapement, and is a stem winder and stem setter, the same as any expensive watch.

From The Bradys Beyond Their Depth The Great Swamp Mystery by Doughty, Francis Worcester

In delineating this angle, Moritz Grossman, in his "Prize Essay on the Detached Lever Escapement," makes an error, in Plate III of large English edition, of more than his entire lock, or about two degrees.

From Watch and Clock Escapements A Complete Study in Theory and Practice of the Lever, Cylinder and Chronometer Escapements, Together with a Brief Account of the Origin and Evolution of the Escapement in Horology by Anonymous

Escapement friction plays an important role in the position and isochronal adjustments; the greater the friction encountered the slower the vibration of the balance.

From An Analysis of the Lever Escapement by Playtner, H. R.

Escapement of timepieces, 416; cylinder, 420; lever, 421, 422.

From How it Works Dealing in simple language with steam, electricity, light, heat, sound, hydraulics, optics, etc., and with their applications to apparatus in common use by Williams, Archibald