pawl

noun

1. 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.

   “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.”

2. A similar device to prevent motion in other mechanisms besides ratchets.
3. (alt-of, alternative)Alternative form of paul (“kind of tent”).

verb

1. (transitive)To stop with a pawl.