lever escapement

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lev′er escape′ment, [Horol.]

1. Time an escapement in which a pivoted lever, made to oscillate by the escape wheel, engages a balance staff and causes it to oscillate.

• 1830–40

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

es•cape•ment  (i skāp′mənt), n. 

1. Time [Horol.] the portion of a watch or clock that measures beats and controls the speed of the going train. Cf. anchor escapement, deadbeat (def. 1), lever escapement. 
2. a mechanism for regulating the motion of a typewriter carriage, consisting of pawls and a toothed wheel or rack.
3. Music and Dance 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.

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