noun

gavel

GA-vuhl

noun

A small ceremonial mallet used by a judge, chairperson, or auctioneer to call for order or to confirm a decision.

"The judge banged the gavel and called the courtroom to order."

"The auctioneer's gavel came down, and the painting was sold."

verb

To use a gavel, or to formally open or close a session by striking one.

"The chairman gaveled the meeting to a close."

How to Use Gavel

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe small wooden hammer a judge or auctioneer bangs to get attention or confirm a decision.

Common pairings

bang the gavel the gavel came down gavel the meeting to order

Word Forms

gaveled past tense, gavelled past tense, gaveled past tense, gavelled past tense, gavels plural, gavels plural, gavels plural, gavels plural, gavels singular, gavels singular

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The judge banged the _____ and called the courtroom to order.

Etymology

Traced to Old English gafol, originally meaning tribute or payment, later shifting to describe the small mallet used to mark formal proceedings.

Rhymes for gavel

navel ravel Pavel Havel travel gravel unravel

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