gav·el 1 
(găvəl)
(găvəl)n.
1. A small mallet, especially:
a. One that a judge or presiding officer raps to signal for order.
b. One that an auctioneer raps to mark the end of a transaction.
2. A maul used by masons in fitting stones.
tr.v. gav·eled, gav·el·ing, gav·els also gav·elled or gav·el·ling
To bring about or compel by using a gavel: "The chairman ... tries to gavel the demonstration to an end" (New Yorker).
[Origin unknown.]
gavel1