gavel
pronunciation
How to pronounce gavel in British English:
UK [ˈgævl]
How to pronounce gavel in American English:
US [ˈɡævəl]
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- Noun:
- a small mallet used by a presiding officer or a judge
Word Origin
- gavel (n.)
- "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. Old English had tabule "wooden hammer struck as a signal for assembly among monks," an extended sense of table (n.).
Synonym
Example
- 1. The chairman rapped on the table twice with his gavel .
- 2. He rapped his gavel to call the committee into session .
- 3. Don 't you bang that gavel atme , you sanctimonious jesus freak !
- 4. He raps his gavel as we .
- 5. He got a bigger gavel .