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Webster 1913 Edition

Pawl

Pawl

,
Noun.
[W.
pawl
a pole, a stake. Cf.
Pole
a stake.]
(Mach.)
A pivoted tongue, or sliding bolt, on one part of a machine, adapted to fall into notches, or interdental spaces, on another part, as a ratchet wheel, in such a manner as to permit motion in one direction and prevent it in the reverse, as in a windlass; a catch, click, or detent. See Illust. of
Ratchet Wheel
.
[Written also
paul
, or
pall
.]
Pawl bitt
(Naut.)
,
a heavy timber, set abaft the windlass, to receive the strain of the pawls.
–
Pawl rim
or
Pawl ring
(Naut.)
,
a stationary metallic ring surrounding the base of a capstan, having notches for the pawls to catch in.

Pawl

,
Verb.
T.
To stop with a pawl; to drop the pawls off.
To pawl the capstan
.
See under
Capstan
.

Webster 1828 Edition

Pawl

PAWL

,
Noun.
[Eng. pole; L. palus. See Pole.] Among seamen, a short bar of wood or iron fixed close to the capstan or windlass of a ship to prevent it from rolling back or giving way.

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