pawl

noun \ ˈpȯl \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of pawl

: a pivoted tongue or sliding bolt on one part of a machine that is adapted to fall into notches or interdental spaces on another part so as to permit motion in only one direction

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Recent Examples of pawl from the Web

Also on Friday, Ford issued a safety recall for 161 vehicles in North America that could be missing a roll pin that attaches the park pawl rod guide cup to the transmission case.

— jaclyn cosgrove, latimes.com, "Ford is recalling 350,000 trucks and SUVs that might move when gear shift is in 'park'," 6 Apr. 2018
Picture a complex spine under the fish’s eye that operates like a ratchet and pawl, laterally locking into place like two sharp arms.

— troy farah, Smithsonian, "Why Did a Venomous Fish Evolve a Glowing Eye Spike?," 29 Mar. 2018
As the line paid out, the level wind pawl traversed the face of the reel, once, twice, and stopped just shy of the third, about 30 feet down.

— steve meyer, Anchorage Daily News, "Solitude, big rainbows are the reward for trekking to Kenai refuge’s wilderness lakes," 9 Jan. 2018
Inside are Duragear brass gears and Eversilk coated pinion shaft and pawl, and there's even a lube port to keep things running smoothly.

— wes coast, NOLA.com, "Six baitcasting reels under $200, perfect for South Louisiana," 12 July 2017
Ratcheting screwdrivers contain a gear-and-pawl mechanism that isolates the handle from the stem, allowing you to turn the screw many times without having to reposition your hand.

— michelle higgins, New York Times, "The Starter Tool Kit," 19 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pawl.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.