Pawl

Quick meaning: Pawl is a noun meaning A similar device to prevent motion in other mechanisms besides ratchets.

Meaning

A similar device to prevent motion in other mechanisms besides ratchets.

More Meanings

1. (transitive) To stop with a pawl.
2. 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.
3. Alternative form of paul (“kind of tent”).

Example Sentences

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.

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.

Word Forms

• pawls
• pawling
• pawled

Synonyms for pawl

Depending on context, synonyms include dog, click, detent.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include detent, click, dog, ratchet, fastener, knife.

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