pawl etymology

Etymology:

The word "pawl" comes from the Middle English word "paule," which is itself derived from the Old French word "paule," meaning "a small lever or catch."

Meaning:

A pawl is a small, pivoted lever or catch that is used to engage or disengage a toothed wheel or ratchet. It is typically used to prevent a wheel from rotating in one direction, or to allow it to rotate only in one direction.

Origin:

The use of pawls to engage and disengage toothed wheels can be traced back to ancient times. One of the earliest known examples of a pawl is found in the Antikythera Mechanism, a complex astronomical calculator dating back to the 2nd century BC.

Pawls have been used in a wide variety of applications throughout history, from simple machines such as windmills and water mills to complex mechanisms such as clocks and gearboxes. They are still widely used today in a variety of industrial and consumer products.

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