2. Hence: (Fig.) Anything of superior quality, as was attributed to the stem-winding watch; -- esp. used to describe a stirring speech, as in the phrase ``a stem-winder of a speech'' or ``delivered a stem-winder''. [PJC]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
stem-winder — stem wind·er (stĕmʹwīn dər) n. 1. A stem winding watch. 2. A rousing oration, especially a political one. * * * … Universalium
stem-winder — noun Date: 1875 1. a stem winding watch 2. [from the superiority of the stem winding watch over the older key wound watch] one that is first rate of its kind; especially a stirring speech … New Collegiate Dictionary
stem-winder — /ˈstɛm waɪndə/ (say stem wuynduh) noun a watch wound by turning a knob at the stem …
stem-winder — noun a) A watch that is wound up by turning a small knob (at the stem) b) A rousing speech, especially by a politician … Wiktionary
stem-winder — noun N. Amer. 1》 informal a rousing speech. 2》 a watch wound by turning a knob on the end of a stem … English new terms dictionary
stem-winder — noun a watch that is wound by turning a knob at the stem • Hypernyms: ↑watch, ↑ticker … Useful english dictionary
stem — {{11}}stem (n.) O.E. stemn, stefn stem of a plant, also either end post of a ship, from P.Gmc. *stamniz (Cf. O.S. stamm, O.N. stafn stem of a ship; Dan. stamme, Swed. stam trunk of a tree; O.H.G. stam, Ger. Stamm), from PIE root *sta … Etymology dictionary
stem — 1. n. & v. n. 1 the main body or stalk of a plant or shrub, usu. rising into light, but occasionally subterranean. 2 the stalk supporting a fruit, flower, or leaf, and attaching it to a larger branch, twig, or stalk. 3 a stem shaped part of an… … Useful english dictionary
stem — I n 1. stalk, trunk, caudex, culm, Brit. haulm, cane, colamus, quill, Bot. caulis, Bot. caulicle, Bot. axis; leafstalk, Bot. petiole, Bot. petiolule, Biol. pedicle, Bot. pedicel, Both Bot., Zool. footstalk, peduncle, Both Bot. funicle, funiculus … A Note on the Style of the synonym finder
stemwinder — /stem wuyn deuhr/, n. 1. a stemwinding watch. 2. Older Slang. a. something remarkable of its kind. b. a rousing speech, esp. a stirring political address. c. a stirring orator. Also, stem winder. [1865 70, Amer.; STEM1 + WINDER] * * * stemˈwīnder … Useful english dictionary
