Pawl

Pronunciation

• IPA: /pɔːl/Rhymes: -ɔːl
• Homophones: pall, Paul

Origin

Perhaps from Low German or Dutch pal.

Full definition of pawl

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.
• 1994, Cormac McCarthy, The Crossing:The nails in the rim of the wheel went ratcheting over the leather pawl and the wheel slowed and came to a stop and the woman turned to the crowd and smiled.
• 1910, Victor Appleton, Tom Swift and his MotorcycleA 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.

Derived terms

• pawl bitt
• pawl rim

Verb

1. (transitive) To stop with a pawl.

Derived terms

• pawl the capstan