I. gav·el ˈgavəl noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English gafol, from the stem of giefan to give — more at give
1. : periodic payment (as of rent or tribute) to a superior in ancient and medieval England whether in service or produce
2. obsolete : interest on money : usury
II. ga·vel ˈgāvəl
chiefly Scotland
variant of gable
III. gav·el ˈgavəl noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Old North French gavelle sheaf, bundle of fagots, perhaps from (assumed) Vulgar Latin cavella, diminutive of Late Latin cavus, from Latin, hollow — more at cave
1. : a quantity of mowed grain sufficient to make a sheaf ; especially : grain dropped in a straight pile from a cradle or reaper after cutting
2.
a. : a bundle (as a sheaf or shock) of grain, hay, or straw
b. Britain : a bundle of straw or reeds ready for use in thatching
IV. gavel transitive verb
( gaveled or gavelled ; gaveled or gavelled ; gaveling or gavelling -v(ə)liŋ ; gavels )
Etymology: Middle English gavelen, from gavel, n.
: to rake or collect (grain or hay) in gavels
V. gavel noun
( -s )
Etymology: short for gavelkind
1. : gavelkind 2
2. : a body of joint tenants (as under gavelkind) that are usually blood relatives
VI. gavel transitive verb
( gaveled or gavelled ; gaveled or gavelled ; gaveling or gavelling -v(ə)liŋ ; gavels )
: to subject to or distribute according to the custom of gavelkind
VII. gavel noun
( -s )
Etymology: origin unknown
1. : a mason's setting maul
2.
a. : the mallet of a presiding officer (as in a legislative body, public assembly, court)
b. : a mallet used (as by an auctioneer) to attract or command attention or to confirm an act (as of selling)
VIII. gavel transitive verb
( gaveled or gavelled ; gaveled or gavelled ; gaveling or gavelling -v(ə)liŋ ; gavels )
1. : to demand, require, or force by use of the gavel usually with disregard of parliamentary courtesies
a sound that the presiding officer … gaveled into silence — F.G.Slaughter
2. : to declare arbitrarily without regard to parliamentary practice — compare steamroller