pawl

Fetched 2026-11-05 (live).

Datamuse reports no synonyms or antonyms for this word.

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”).

Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wiktionary) · cached copy, not a rewrite.