Meanings
nouncamwheel (plural camwheels)
plural camwheels
- engineeringA wheel with one or more projections (cams) or depressions upon its periphery or upon its face, one which is set or shaped irregularly, so that its revolutions impart a varied, reciprocating, or intermittent motion.
camwheel on a motorbike/conveyor/drive shaft
1 more example
An occulting apparatus in general use consists of a cylindrical screen, fitting over the burner, rapidly lowered and raised by means of a cam-wheel at stated intervals. The cam-wheel is actuated by means of a weight or spring clock.
1911, Encyclopædia Britannica, Lighthouse
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*ǵembʰ-
- Proto-Indo-European*ǵómbʰos
- Proto-Germanic*kambaz
- Proto-West Germanicᚲᚨᛒᚨ
- Proto-West Germanic*kamb
- Old Dutch*kamb
- Middle Dutchkamp
- Dutchkam
- Englishcam
- Proto-Indo-European*kʷelh₁-redup.
- Proto-Indo-European*kʷekʷléh₂
- Proto-Germanic*hweulō
- Old Englishhwēol
- Middle Englishwhel
- Englishwheel
- Englishcamwheel
Translations
Danish mønsterhjul
- mønsterhjulmechanical part
Swedish mönsterhjul
- mönsterhjulmechanical part
Cite this entry
APA
camwheel. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/camwheel
MLA
“camwheel.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/camwheel. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “camwheel,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/camwheel.
Source: camwheel on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.