Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Cam"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Cam \Cam\ (k[a^]m), n. [Dan. kam comb, ridge; or cf. W., Gael.,
and Ir., cam bent. See 1st {Comb}.]
1. (Med.)
(a) A turning or sliding piece which, by the shape of its
periphery or face, or a groove in its surface, imparts
variable or intermittent motion to, or receives such
motion from, a rod, lever, or block brought into
sliding or rolling contact with it.
(b) A curved wedge, movable about an axis, used for
forcing or clamping two pieces together.
(c) A projecting part of a wheel or other moving piece so
shaped as to give alternate or variable motion to
another piece against which it acts.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Cam \Cam\, a. [See {Kam}.]
Crooked. [Obs.]
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
cam
n : a rotating disk shaped to convert circular into linear
motion
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