Pawl Definition

pôl
noun
A mechanical device allowing rotation in only one direction: one type consists of a hinged tongue, the tip of which engages the notches of a ratchet wheel, preventing backward motion.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
verb
To stop with a pawl.
Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Pawl

Noun

Singular:
pawl
Plural:
pawls

Origin of Pawl

  • Perhaps variant of pale or pole or from French pal (from Old French pale1)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Perhaps from Low German or Dutch pal.

    From Wiktionary

Pawl Sentence Examples

  • In the brake shown, the cone I is pressed against a corresponding recess in the ratchetwheel J, which latter turns loosely in the casing and is provided with a pawl not shown in the figure; this pawl allows freedom of motion when the load is being raised.

  • When the poise is at the zero end, and there is no load on the platform, the end of the steelyard is down, and has locked the ratchet wheel by means of the pawl; the shaft being thus locked, the sprocket wheels are stopped, the drum-shaft runs free by the friction clutch, and the two pulleys which are connected by the crossed band are running idle.

  • When the load to be weighed comes upon the platform, the end of the steelyard rises and unlocks the ratchet wheel through the pawl; the sprocket gearing is driven by the friction clutch, and drives the axle of the left-hand small pulley.

  • The extended pawl allows for quick and simple release of the ties.

  • The parking pawl is a strong, positive stop within the transmission.

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Find Similar Words

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Words Starting With

PPAPAW

Words Ending With

LWLAWL

Unscrambles

pawl

Words Starting With P and Ending With L

Starts With P & Ends With LStarts With PA & Ends With LStarts With P & Ends With WL

Word Length

4 Letter Words4 Letter Words Starting With P4 Letter Words Ending With L