overbank

[ oh-ver-bangk ]

verb (used without object)

, Horology.

1. to have the balance staff oscillate so greatly that the fork of the lever fails to engage, rendering the escapement inoperative.

Word History and Origins

Origin of overbank¹

First recorded in 1880–85; over- + bank ¹

Example Sentences

In spite of this the model runs very actively and will overbank if wound up very far.

From Project Gutenberg