Whitworth's quick return

noun

Whit·​worth's quick return

ˈhwitˌwərths- also ˈwi-

: a quick return in which the follower is a bar rotating or oscillating about one end and carrying a sliding driving sleeve or block rotated uniformly in a circle eccentric to the bar's motion

Word History

Etymology

after Sir Joseph Whitworth †1887 English mechanical engineer and inventor

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!