English Explanatory Dictionary

pawl

English dictionary entry

Meanings

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.
  2. A similar device to prevent motion in other mechanisms besides ratchets.
verb
  1. To stop with a pawl.
noun
  1. Alternative form of paul (“kind of tent”).

Pronunciation

/pɔːl/ /pɑl/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Sapaa-pawl.wav

Word forms

pawl pawls pall pawling pawled

Etymology

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

Derived words

pawl bitt pawl rim pawl the capstan

Translations

Bulgarian: палец Bulgarian: език Chinese Mandarin: 千斤 Czech: západka Dutch: pal Esperanto: kliko Finnish: lukituskynsi French: cliquet German: Sperrklinke German: Klaue German: Klinke Italian: cricchetto Japanese: 歯止め Norwegian Bokmål: pal Polish: zapadka Russian: соба́чка Spanish: matraca
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