pawl

Plural: pawls

Noun

• A hinged mechanical part that engages with a ratchet.
• a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward
• 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 similar device to prevent motion in other mechanisms besides ratchets.
• Alternative form of paul (“kind of tent”).

Verb

• To stop with a pawl.

Examples

• He felt like a PAWL, locking into place with a perfect word on the Words With Friends board.

Synonyms

click, detent, dog