block and tackle

noun

A system in which a rope, cable, or chain (the tackle) is passed over pulleys enclosed in two (or rarely more) blocks, one fixed and one attached to a load, which is used to gain mechanical advantage to lift or pull heavy loads.

Similar
polyspastmufflehoisting-tackle
Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounblock and tackle (plural block and tackles or blocks and tackles)

plural block and tackles · plural blocks and tackles

  1. A system in which a rope, cable, or chain (the tackle) is passed over pulleys enclosed in two (or rarely more) blocks, one fixed and one attached to a load, which is used to gain mechanical advantage to lift or pull heavy loads.

    Synonyms: polyspast, muffle, hoisting-tackle

  2. euphemisticThe underwear combination of stockings worn with a suspender belt.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA system in which a rope, cable, or chain (the tackle) is passed over pulleys enclosed in two (or rarely more) blocks, one fixed and one attached to a load, which is used to gain mechanical advantage to lift or pull heavy loads.

Similar
polyspastmufflehoisting-tackle
Also see
polyspast

Translations

Ancient Greek πολύσπαστον, ἄρμενα
  • πολύσπαστον (polúspaston)system of several pulleys
  • ἄρμενα (ármena)system of several pulleys
  • τροχιλεία (trokhileía)system of several pulleys
Arabic مُحْل, مَحَالَة
  • مُحْل (muḥl)system of several pulleys
  • مَحَالَة (maḥāla)system of several pulleys
Bulgarian полиспа́ст
  • полиспа́ст (polispást)system of several pulleys
Czech kladkostroj
  • kladkostrojsystem of several pulleys
Danish talje
  • taljesystem of several pulleys
Finnish väkipyörästö, taljasto
  • väkipyörästösystem of several pulleys
  • taljastosystem of several pulleys
French polyspaste, moufle
  • polyspastesystem of several pulleys
  • mouflesystem of several pulleys
German Flaschenzug, Zugwerk
  • Flaschenzugsystem of several pulleys
  • Zugwerksystem of several pulleys
Greek πολύσπαστο
  • πολύσπαστο (polýspasto)system of several pulleys
Hebrew גַּלְגֶּלֶת, מַעֲרֶכֶת גַּלְגִּלּוֹת
  • גַּלְגֶּלֶתsystem of several pulleys
  • מַעֲרֶכֶת גַּלְגִּלּוֹת (ma'arekhet galgilot)system of several pulleys
Hungarian csigasor
  • csigasorsystem of several pulleys
Icelandic talía
  • talíasystem of several pulleys
Italian polispasto, paranco
  • polispastosystem of several pulleys
  • parancosystem of several pulleys
Latin polyspaston, trochlea
  • polyspastonsystem of several pulleys
  • trochleasystem of several pulleys
Norwegian Bokmål talje
  • taljesystem of several pulleys
Polish wielokrążek
  • wielokrążeksystem of several pulleys
Portuguese bloco de polias
  • bloco de poliassystem of several pulleys
Romanian scripete
  • scripetesystem of several pulleys
Russian полиспа́ст, таль
  • полиспа́ст (polispást)system of several pulleys
  • таль (talʹ)system of several pulleys
Spanish polipasto, polispasto
  • polipastosystem of several pulleys
  • polispastosystem of several pulleys
  • muflasystem of several pulleys
  • aparejosystem of several pulleys
  • jarciasystem of several pulleys
  • cordajesystem of several pulleys
  • cordeleríasystem of several pulleys
Swedish talja
  • taljasystem of several pulleys
Turkish palanga, caraskal
  • palangasystem of several pulleys
  • caraskalsystem of several pulleys
Ukrainian поліспа́ст
  • поліспа́ст (polispást)system of several pulleys
Vietnamese pa lăng
  • pa lăngsystem of several pulleys
Cite this entry
APA

block and tackle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/block%20and%20tackle

MLA

“block and tackle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/block%20and%20tackle. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “block and tackle,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/block%20and%20tackle.

Source: block and tackle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.