pawl /ˈpɔl/
 棘爪,制轉桿(vt.)用制轉桿使停轉
 Pawl n.  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. [Written also paul, or pall.]
 Pawl bitt Naut., a heavy timber, set abaft the windlass, to receive the strain of the pawls.
 Pawl rim or Pawl ring Naut., a stationary metallic ring surrounding the base of a capstan, having notches for the pawls to catch in.
 Pawl, v. t. To stop with a pawl; to drop the pawls off.
 To pawl the capstan. See under Capstan.
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 pawl
      n : a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a
          wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward [syn: detent,
           click, dog]