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.
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| v. t. | 1. | To stop with a pawl; to drop the pawls off.
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| 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 |