gavel etymology

Etymology:

• Old French: gavle
• Latin: gabalum (Gaulish term for a public assembly)

Meaning and Origin:

The word "gavel" has multiple meanings related to its use in legal and parliamentary settings:

1. Mallet Used by a Judge or Presiding Officer:

• In courtrooms and legislative assemblies, a gavel is a small mallet used to signal the beginning or ending of proceedings, to maintain order, or to emphasize a point.
• It originated from the ancient Roman practice of striking a bell or gong to call for attention or to mark the opening or adjournment of a public meeting.

2. Parliamentary Procedure:

• In parliamentary law, a gavel is the symbol of the authority of the presiding officer.
• It is used to recognize speakers, call for votes, and adjourn meetings.
• The term "gavel" is also used to refer to the office of the presiding officer, such as the "Speaker of the House" or "Chairman of the Committee."

3. Division of Property:

• Historically, a gavel was also used to divide property or determine boundaries.
• It represented the notion of "equal division" or "fair share."

Additional Notes:

• The word "gavelkind" refers to an ancient English land tenure system in which land was divided equally among male heirs.
• In modern usage, the term "to pass the gavel" means to transfer authority or leadership from one person to another.

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