windup

American  

[wahynd-uhp] / ˈwaɪndˌʌp /

Or wind-up

noun

1. the conclusion of any action, activity, etc.; the end or close.

2. a final act or part.

3. Baseball. the preparatory movements of the arm before pitching a ball.

4. Informal. a mechanical object, as a toy or wristwatch, that is driven by a spring or similar mechanism that must be wound.

5. an act or instance of winding up.

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Etymology

Origin of windup

First recorded in 1565–75; noun use of verb phrase wind up

Example Sentences

On Wednesday he was an automaton, almost like a windup toy.

From Salon

Early designs included fake vomit and a plastic robot called Mr. Machine, a windup robot that was transparent, allowing children to see how the gears worked.

From The Wall Street Journal

Phones rose with each windup, fans stood between pitches and that rare postseason stillness crept in, nearly three months early.

From Los Angeles Times

Along the way Kershaw’s unique windup, the right knee pausing as he lifts both hands just above his cap, has become an instantly recognizable silhouette for a generation of Dodger fans.

From Los Angeles Times

James plays both Hal and Bill, twin brothers whose family is cursed by the presence of a murderous windup monkey their father brings back from a trip.

From Los Angeles Times