gavel

[ gav-uh l ]

/ ˈgæv əl /

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

Nearby words

gavage, gavard's muscle, gavarnie, gavaskar, gave, gavel, gavel-to-gavel, gavelkind, gavial, gavin, gavotte

Origin of gavel

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805; origin uncertain

Can be confused

gavel gravel grovel

Definition for gavel (2 of 2)

gavel

[ gav-uh l ]

/ ˈgæv əl /

noun

feudal rent or tribute.

Origin of gavel

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

Examples from the Web for 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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

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|DAILY BEAST
Judge Ledue took the chair, looked around for something to use as a gavel, and rapped sharply with a paperweight.
The Cosmic Computer|Henry Beam Piper
However, the order of his court must be observed and he signed to Blodgett, who raised his gavel.
Lightnin'|Frank Bacon
The chairman raised his hand and rapped with his gavel, and at length he had obtained silence.
Coniston, Complete|Winston Churchill
In another minute the president's gavel sounded, and the floor was still as a tomb.
Friday, the Thirteenth|Thomas W. Lawson
The rap of Mr. Speaker's gavel is sharp, immediate, and peremptory.
Congressional Government|Woodrow Wilson

British Dictionary definitions for gavel

gavel

/ (ˈɡævəl) /

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