It is as you say a free wheel gear, one way clutch, sprang clutch etc. It’s purpose is to transmit torque to the pinion adjacent to it, which then drives the flywheel ring gear. When the engine fires and the pinion remains engaged, it will try to drive the starter, which may damage it. The clutch however will slip or free wheel when driven from the engine, thus preventing damage to the starter by overrevving it. It should slip in one direction if you try to turn the pinion by hand.
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You look at where you're going and where you are and it never makes sense, but then you look back at where you've been and a pattern seems to emerge. (Pirsig)
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