Noun

(en noun)

A pawl, click or detent for holding or propelling a ratchet wheel, or ratch, etc.

A mechanism composed of a ratchet wheel, or ratch and pawl.

A ratchet wrench.

(analogous ) A procedure or regulation that goes in one direction, usually up.

* {{quote-magazine, date=2012-12-14

, author=Simon Jenkins, authorlink=Simon Jenkins , title=We mustn't overreact to North Korea boys' toys , volume=188, issue=2, page=23 , date=2012-12-21 , magazine= citation , passage=The threat of terrorism to the British lies in the overreaction to it of British governments. Each one in turn clicks up the ratchet of surveillance, intrusion and security. Each one diminishes liberty.}}

Noun

(en noun)

(Australian, NZ, British, Irish) A hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts.

Pass me that spanner , Jake; there's just one more nut to screw in.

(rare) One who, or that which, spans.

* 1915 , Florence Kiper Frank, The Jew to Jesus: and other poems

The scheme of the spanner of continents and the desire of the little husbandman hoarding for his loved ones...

(weaponry) A hand tool shaped like a small crank handle, for winding the spring of a wheel lock on a musket.

:* 1786 , Fig. 10. The spanner for spanning or winding up the spring of the wheel lock. — Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons , page xvi.

(obsolete) A device in early steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam.

(UK) A problem, dilemma or obstacle; something unexpected or troublesome (in the phrase spanner in the works )

Halfway through the production of Macbeth, the director found that the stage was smaller than he expected. This really threw a spanner in the works.

(British, Irish, mildly, derogatory) A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language.

You spanner , Rodney! I wanted a Chinese, not an Indian!