pawl /pɑl/noun 2verb 1forms 3 noun2 •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.A pawl is a sort of catch that fits into a ratchet wheel and pushes it around, or it may be used as a catch to prevent the backward motion of a windlass or the wheel on a derrick. — 1910 •A similar device to prevent motion in other mechanisms besides ratchets. verb1 •To stop with a pawl. formspawled · pawling · pawls
