pawl

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Pronunciation

• IPA: /pɔːl/
• (Canada) IPA: /pɑl/

Noun

pawl (plural pawls)

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.

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

Translations

• French: cliquet
• German: Sperrklinke, Klaue, Klinke
• Italian: cricchetto
• Russian: соба́чка
• Spanish: matraca

Verb

pawl (pawls, present participle pawling; past and past participle pawled)

1. (transitive) To stop with a pawl.

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