wind-up

Meanings

1. The end or conclusion of something.
2. The punch line of a joke or comedy routine.
3. A humorous attempt to fool somebody; a practical joke in which the victim is encouraged to believe something untrue.
4. The phase of making a pitch where the pitcher moves his or her arm backwards before throwing the ball.
5. A circular hand gesture, supposed to represent the winding on of film, used to signal to a performer to finish quickly.

1. Of a machine, requiring winding up in order to function.

Etymology

Deverbal from wind up.