gavel

1 of 3

noun (1)

gav·​el ˈga-vəl 

: rent or tribute in medieval England

gavel

2 of 3

noun (2)

: a mallet used (as by a presiding officer or auctioneer) for commanding attention or confirming an action (such as a vote or sale)

gavel

3 of 3

verb

gaveled or gavelled; gaveling or gavelling ˈga-v(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

: to bring or force by use of a gavel

gaveled the audience to silence

Examples of gavel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Thomson has the title and the gavel, but time will tell who’s driving the agenda — the mayor or Pearlman, founder of the development opposition group Save Boca, who ran with Grau and Sipple as a slate. —Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 16 Mar. 2026

Banksy’s most recent headline-grabber popped up in September last year, depicting a judge attacking an unarmed protester with his gavel. —Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 13 Mar. 2026

Verb

Speaker Johnson to display, but not use, George Washington's gavel during address Sarah D. Wire House Speaker Mike Johnson will display George Washington’s gavel during the State of the Union address, according to the U.S. Capitol Historical Society. —Zac Anderson, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026

Libby and director Tyne Rafaeli certainly do not miss an opportunity to bang that gavel. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English gafol; akin to Old English giefan to give

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1835, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1925, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gavel

• gavel-to-gavel

Rhymes for gavel

• caval
• cavil
• gravel
• travel
• unravel

Kids Definition

gavel

noun

gav·​el

ˈgav-əl

: the mallet of an officer in charge of a meeting or of an auctioneer