Pronunciation: [stˈɛmwɪndɪŋ] (IPA) 
The word "stemwinding" is spelled with a "w" and not a "u" despite how it may sound. This is due to the combination of two separate words: "stem" and "wind". The "w" in "wind" carries over into the compound word, resulting in "stemwinding". In IPA phonetic transcription, the word is pronounced /ˈstɛmˌwaɪndɪŋ/. Despite its spelling, the word refers to something exciting or lively, as in "a stemwinding speech."
Stemwinding, as a noun, refers to a type of watch or clock that is wound by turning a small knob or projecting piece called a stem. Stemwinding watches were widely used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries before being largely replaced by more modern winding mechanisms. The stem, located on the side of the watch case, would need to be manually rotated in order to wind the mainspring inside the timepiece, which provides the energy needed for the watch to function accurately. The term can also be used as an adjective to describe a political speech or performance that is particularly lively, forceful, or impassioned, often characterized by a speaker delivering an enthusiastic or inspiring talk to a captivated audience. Stemwinding speeches are typically engaging and charismatic, designed to captivate and motivate listeners. This term's origin can be traced back to a time when winding a watch with a stem was considered a significant technological advancement, resulting in praise and enthusiasm for this type of watch or clock. Over time, the adjective "stemwinding" began to be used metaphorically to describe anything that is impressive, powerful, or captivating, including political or persuasive oratory.
The word "stemwinding" originated in the early 19th century in the United States, specifically in the context of political discourse. is a compound word formed from two elements: "stem" and "winding".
The term "stem" refers to the stem of a pocket watch, which is the part used to wind the watch. In the early pocket watches, one had to manually wind the watch by turning the stem. This action was often associated with efforts to keep the watch running smoothly and accurately.
The word "winding" here is used as a verb, meaning "to wind", which in turn means to twist or turn something repeatedly. In the case of a pocket watch, winding was the action of turning the stem to tighten the internal spring that powered the watch.
With this in mind, "stemwinding" metaphorically came to mean the act of making a dynamic, enthusiastic, and captivating speech or presentation.
