Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

pawl

/pɔːl/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.94 in modern English

Syllables: pawl
IPA: /pɔːl/

9

Scrabble Score

4

Letters

1

Syllables

4

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A pivoted catch designed to fall into a notch on a ratchet wheel so as to allow movement in only one direction (e.g. on a windlass or in a clock mechanism), or alternatively to move the wheel in one direction.

noun

A similar device to prevent motion in other mechanisms besides ratchets.

verb

To stop with a pawl.

Transitive verb

noun

Alternative form of paul (“kind of tent”).

Example Sentences

"A pawl is a sort of catch that fits into a ratchet wheel and pushes it around, or it may be used as a catch to prevent the backward motion of a windlass or the wheel on a derrick."
"The nails in the rim of the wheel went ratcheting over the leather pawl and the wheel slowed and came to a stop and the woman turned to the crowd and smiled."

Etymology

17th c., perhaps from Low German or Dutch pal (“catch (mechanism)”), or from either French pal (“stake”) or épaule (“shoulder”).

Origin

Source language: Dutch

Word Breakdown

Root: -, pal

Usage

Transitive verb

Inflected Forms

pawls (plural) pall (alternative) pawls (present, singular) pawling (participle, present) pawled (participle, past) pawled (past)

Phrases

pawl bitt pawl rim pawl the capstan

Synonyms

detent click dog

Homonyms

pall Paul

Rhymes With

all at all small call tell all fall lol wall ball paul y'all overall

Questions

How do you pronounce pawl?: The recorded pronunciation is /pɔːl/.
What does pawl mean?: A pivoted catch designed to fall into a notch on a ratchet wheel so as to allow movement in only one direction (e.g. on a windlass or in a clock mechanism), or alternatively to move the wheel in one direction.
Where does pawl come from?: It is traced to Dutch.

How to pronounce pawl

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “pawl”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/pɔːl/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “pawl”.
Repeat and practice — Say “pawl” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.