n. & v.
n. 1 a lever with a catch for the teeth of a wheel or bar. 2 Naut. a short bar used to lock a capstan, windlass, etc., to prevent it from recoiling.
v.tr. secure (a capstan etc.) with a pawl.
[ perh. f. LG & Du. pal, rel. to pal fixed ]
n. & v.
n. 1 a lever with a catch for the teeth of a wheel or bar. 2 Naut. a short bar used to lock a capstan, windlass, etc., to prevent it from recoiling.
v.tr. secure (a capstan etc.) with a pawl.
[ perh. f. LG & Du. pal, rel. to pal fixed ]
Concise Oxford English dictionary. Краткий оксфордский словарь английского языка. 2012