pull string

A short cord, rope, or string attached to a mechanism that activates or operates something when it is pulled. You’ll see them in various applications:

• Toys: In “pull-string” dolls or toys, pulling the string winds a small internal mechanism (often a spring-loaded recorder or gear system) that plays a sound or makes the toy move. Classic talking dolls, for example, will say phrases when you pull the string.
• Tools and Equipment: Some lawnmowers and generators have a pull-cord starter that you yank to ignite the engine. The string (or cord) is attached to a recoil mechanism that spins the engine shaft, helping it start.
• Household Items: Items like blinds or ceiling fans sometimes have a pull-string or pull-cord that toggles lights or adjusts the window covering.

The essential idea is that the tension from pulling on the string causes an internal mechanism or motor to engage, producing movement, sound, or another form of action.