stem-winder

noun

stem-wind·​er ˈstem-ˌwīn-dər 

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

Word History

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

stem-winder

noun

stem-wind·​er

ˈstem-ˌwīn-dər

1

: a watch wound by an inside mechanism turned by a knob on the stem

2

: something that is first-rate of its kind

especially : a stirring speech