名詞 ratchet:

1. mechanical device consisting of a toothed wheel or rack engaged with a pawl that permits it to move in only one direction
   同義詞：rachet, ratch

動(dòng)詞 ratchet:

1. move by degrees in one direction only
   同義詞：rachet up, ratchet down

ratch.et

n.（名詞）
A mechanism consisting of a pawl that engages the sloping teeth of a wheel or bar, permitting motion in one direction only.
棘輪，棘爪：一種包含合于轉(zhuǎn)輪或長(zhǎng)條傾斜性齒輪中的爪狀物的機(jī)械，使輪僅向一個(gè)方向運(yùn)動(dòng)
The pawl, wheel, or bar of this mechanism.
棘輪，棘爪，棘條：這種機(jī)械裝置中的爪狀物，轉(zhuǎn)輪或長(zhǎng)條
v.tr.（及物動(dòng)詞）
ratch.et.ed,ratch.et.ing,ratch.ets
To increase or decrease by increments. Often used withup, upward, down, or downward :
漸進(jìn)：一步步地增加或減少。通常與up,upward,down 或 downward 一起使用：
例句：
.Some companies . . . may make things worse if they seek to ratchet down their medical expenses by limiting benefits for psychological or psychiatric care.(Newsweek)
.有些公司企圖限制精神或心理衛(wèi)生上的福利來(lái)減少醫(yī)療開支，那它們只會(huì)把事情搞得更糟.(新聞周刊)

來(lái)源：
French rochet
法語(yǔ) rochet
from Old French rocquet [head of a lance (from the shape of the teeth)]
源自 古法語(yǔ) rocquet [長(zhǎng)矛尖端（由齒狀而來(lái)）]
[of Germanic origin]
[來(lái)源于德語(yǔ)]