gravity escapement

American  

noun

Horology.

1. an escapement, used especially in large outdoor clocks, in which the impulse is given to the pendulum by means of a weight falling through a certain distance.

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Etymology

Origin of gravity escapement

First recorded in 1840–50

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gravity escapement

No turret clock without either a train remontoire or a gravity escapement will approach that degree of accuracy.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 5 "Clervaux" to "Cockade" by Various

The double three-legged gravity escapement, which was first used in the Westminster clock, is shown in fig.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 5 "Clervaux" to "Cockade" by Various

A better construction, afterwards introduced, is to make the fly separate from the letting-off arms, whereby the blow on the cylinder is diminished, the fly being allowed to go on as in the gravity escapement.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 5 "Clervaux" to "Cockade" by Various