Dictionary

pawl en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /pɔːl/
• (US) audio
• /pɑl/ (Canada)

Etymology

17th c., perhaps from Low German or Dutch pal (“catch (mechanism)”), or from either French pal (“stake”) or épaule (“shoulder”).

Meanings

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. 1910, Victor Appleton, Tom Swift and his Motorcycle:
   • 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. 1994, Cormac McCarthy, The Crossing:
2. A similar device to prevent motion in other mechanisms besides ratchets.

Forms

Deriveds

pawl bitt · pawl rim

Hypernyms

detent

Translations (21)

sv klinka (pawl) · es linguete (pawl) · bg палец (pawl) · pl zapadka (pawl) · es trinquete (pawl) · de Sperrklinke (pawl) · es pal (pawl) · cs západka (pawl) · nl pal (pawl) · it cricchetto (pawl) · fr cliquet (pawl) · bg език (pawl) · ja 歯止め (pawl) · eo kliko (pawl) · cmn 千斤 (pawl) · de Klinke (pawl) · ru соба́чка (pawl) · sv spärrhake (pawl) · de Klaue (pawl) · nb pal (pawl) · fi lukituskynsi (pawl)

pawl en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /pɔːl/
• (US) audio
• /pɑl/ (Canada)

Etymology

17th c., perhaps from Low German or Dutch pal (“catch (mechanism)”), or from either French pal (“stake”) or épaule (“shoulder”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To stop with a pawl.

Forms

Deriveds

pawl the capstan

pawl en · NOUN · etymology 2

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative form of paul (“kind of tent”).
   alt of paul

Forms