Pawl , v. t. To stop with a pawl; to drop
the pawls off.
To pawl the capstan. See under Capstan.
Pawl (?), n. [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 ring (Naut.),
a stationary metallic ring surrounding the base of a capstan, having notches for the pawls to
catch in.
Hear it pronounced