Pawl
/pɔːl/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A pivoted catch designed to fall into a notch on a ratchet wheel so as to allow movement in only one direction (e.g. on a windlass or in a clock mechanism), or alternatively to move the wheel in one direction.
"A pawl is a sort of catch that fits into a ratchet wheel and pushes it around, or it may be used as a catch to prevent the backward motion of a windlass or the wheel on a derrick."
- 2 Alternative form of paul (“kind of tent”). alt-of, alternative
- 3 a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward wordnet
- 4 A similar device to prevent motion in other mechanisms besides ratchets.
Verb
- 1 To stop with a pawl. transitive
Example
More examples"A pawl is a sort of catch that fits into a ratchet wheel and pushes it around, or it may be used as a catch to prevent the backward motion of a windlass or the wheel on a derrick."
Etymology
17th c., perhaps from Low German or Dutch pal (“catch (mechanism)”), or from either French pal (“stake”) or épaule (“shoulder”).