1. A hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward
   "The pawl in the winch mechanism ensured that the heavy load wouldn't slip back down";
   - detent, click, dog

Sounds like: palates, pallets, palettes, pallettesl, paw

Derived forms: pawls

Type of: catch, stop

Part of: rachet [rare], ratch, ratchet

Encyclopedia: Pawl