pawl
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
Perhaps from Low German or Dutch pal.
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
pawl (plural pawls)
- 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 Motorcycle
- 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.
- 1994, Cormac McCarthy, The Crossing:
Translations [edit]
pawl
Verb [edit]
pawl (third-person singular simple present pawls, present participle pawling, simple past and past participle pawled)
- (transitive) To stop with a pawl.
