Pawl
/pɔːl/noun
A pivoted bar that prevents a wheel or ratchet from moving backward.
Did you know?Pawl entered English through French and ultimately traces back to a Germanic root meaning a pole or stake, the same ancient family behind words for posts and supports.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pel-
“to strike, thrust, or drive forward; a root associated with stakes and poles in later descendants”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*pala-
“pole, stake”
Old French
OF
pal
“stake, pole”
Middle English
ME
paul / pawl
“a stake or peg; later a catch or detent in machinery”
Modern English
English
pawl
“a catch that holds a ratchet wheel in place”