gavel

[gav-uh l]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR gavel ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a small mallet used by the presiding officer of a meeting, a judge, etc., usually to signal for attention or order.

a similar mallet used by an auctioneer to indicate acceptance of the final bid.

Masonry. kevel².

verb (used with object)

to chair (a legislative session, convention, meeting, etc.).

(of a presiding officer)

to request or maintain (order at a meeting) by striking a gavel.
to begin or put into effect (a legislative session, motion, etc.) by striking a gavel.

RELATED WORDS

hammer, maul

Origin of gavel

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805; origin uncertain

Can be confusedgavel gravel grovel

gavel

[gav-uh l]

noun

feudal rent or tribute.

Origin of gavel

before 900; Middle English govel, Old English gafol, akin to giefan to give; cf. gabelle

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for gavel

Contemporary Examples of gavel

One advantage of Inhofe taking the gavel is that he might have to start playing defense.
If You Think D.C. Is Awful Now, Wait Until Wednesday
Jonathan Alter
November 4, 2014
Or maybe show a photo of Ted Cruz holding a gavel chairing a subcommittee.
Democrats, You Better Get Angry or You’ll Lose Congress
Dean Obeidallah
April 23, 2014
Cruz giving a speech in Senate chamber while licking a gavel à la Miley?
Ted Cruz is the Miley Cyrus of the Senate
Dean Obeidallah
October 11, 2013
After the gavel, comes the chiming of wedding bells …and the ringing of cash registers.
Post DOMA: Wedding Vendors Hear Bells...Ka-Ching!
CNBC
June 28, 2013
They'd gavel in for a few moments once every couple of days, and then gavel out again.
DC Appellate Court Rules Obama's Recess Appointment Unconstitutional
Megan McArdle
January 25, 2013

Historical Examples of gavel

It broke up, now, and the judge in the middle rapped with his gavel.
Lone Star Planet
Henry Beam Piper and John Joseph McGuire
Mr. Trimmer pounded on the table with his pencil in lieu of a gavel.
The Making of Bobby Burnit
George Randolph Chester
Radbourn ruled with a gavel of iron, but they all enjoyed it the more.
A Spoil of Office
Hamlin Garland
Silence for a while, that Mr. Price may feel the gavel in his hand, which he does.
Coniston, Complete
Winston Churchill
The Speaker rapped with his gavel, and I failed to hear the opening words.
A Far Country, Complete
Winston Churchill

British Dictionary definitions for gavel

gavel

noun

a small hammer used by a chairman, auctioneer, etc, to call for order or attention

a hammer used by masons to trim rough edges off stones

Word Origin for gavel

C19: of unknown origin

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for gavel

"small mallet used by presiding officers at meetings," 1805, American English, of unknown origin; perhaps connected with German dialectal gaffel "brotherhood, friendly society," from Middle High German gaffel "society, guild," related to Old English gafol "tribute," giefan "to give" (see habit). But in some sources gavel also is identified as a type of mason's tool, in which case the extended meaning may be via freemasonry. As a verb, by 1887, from the noun.