Pawl

n.	1.	(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. Pawl bitt (Naut.) a heavy timber, set abaft the windlass, to receive the strain of the pawls. Pawl rim (Naut.) a stationary metallic ring surrounding the base of a capstan, having notches for the pawls to catch in.
v. t.	1.	To stop with a pawl; to drop the pawls off. To pawl the capstan See under Capstan.

Noun

1.

pawl - a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward Synonyms: detent, click, dog

catch, click, detent, dog, rachet, ratch, ratchet, stop