Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus
1

cavel

noun cav·el \ ˈkavəl , -ev- , -āv- \

Definition of cavel

plural -s
dialectal, British
: a lot determined by a cast

There's more!

Love words? You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!
Already a subscriber? Log in.

Origin and Etymology of cavel

Middle English, from Middle Dutch kavele; akin to Old Norse kefli stick of wood

2

cavel

transitive verb \ " \

Definition of cavel

cavelled; cavelled; cavelling \-v(ə)liŋ, -lə̇n\; cavels
dialectal, British
: to allot or apportion according to lots cast
  • the working positions cavelled by the miners
3

cavel

noun

Definition of cavel

plural -s
obsolete
: a mean fellow

Origin and Etymology of cavel

Middle English kevell, perhaps from Old Norse kefli stick of wood

4

cavel

Definition of cavel

  • variant of kevel:1

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up cavel? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

gaffer

play

a lighting electrician on a movie set

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  2. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  3. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

  4. emolument 'the returns arising from office or employment usually in the form of compensation or perquisites'

  5. troll 'to harass, criticize, or antagonize especially by disparaging or mocking public statements'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

cavel

Test Your Vocabulary

The Eponym Quiz

  • rubens-painting
  • Which is the best synonym of bowdlerize?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games