pulley

The definition of a pulley is a small fixed wheel or a group of such wheels with a rope or chain in a grooved rim that is used to lift something up.

(noun)

An example of a pulley is a device for raising a flag.

See pulley in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. pulleys

a small fixed wheel, sometimes turning in a block, with a grooved rim in which a rope or chain runs, as to raise a weight attached at one end by pulling on the other end: it changes the direction of effort but provides no mechanical advantage
a combination of such wheels, used to increase the mechanical advantage
a wheel that turns or is turned by a belt, rope, chain, etc., so as to transmit power

Origin: ME poley < OFr polie < ML poleia < poledia < MGr *polidion, dim. of polos, pivot, windlass, axis: see wheel

See pulley in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. pul·leys

A simple machine consisting essentially of a wheel with a grooved rim in which a pulled rope or chain can run to change the direction of the pull and thereby lift a load.
A wheel turned by or driving a belt.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English poley

Origin: , from Old French polie

Origin: and from Medieval Latin poliva

Origin: , both ultimately from Greek polos, axis; see k^wel-¹ in Indo-European roots

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