a pivoted lever shaped to engage with a ratchet wheel to prevent motion in a particular direction
Word origin
C17: perhaps from Dutch pal pawl
pawl in American English
(pɔl)
noun
a mechanical device allowing rotation in only one direction: one type consists of a hinged tongue, the tip of which engages the notches of a ratchet wheel, preventing backward motion
Word origin
akin ? to Du pal, pawl, stake, pole
pawl in Mechanical Engineering
(pɔl)
Word forms: (regular plural) pawls
noun
(Mechanical engineering: Machinery and components)
A pawl is a pivoted lever shaped to engage with a ratchet wheel to prevent motion in a particulardirection.
A parking pawl prevents the transmission from rotating, and therefore the vehicle from moving.
A pawl engages with notches on the lower edge of the horizontal bar, which prevent the barfrom being moved back until it has been-drawn fully forwards.
A pawl is a pivoted lever shaped to engage with a ratchet wheel to prevent motion in a particulardirection.