This word is acceptable for play in the US & UK dictionaries that are being used in the following games:

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n. A hinged or pivoted device adapted to fit into a notch of a ratchet wheel to impart forward motion or prevent backward motion.

n. A pivoted catch designed to fall into a notch on a ratchet wheel so as to allow movement in only one direction (e.g. on a windlass or in a clock mechanism), or alternatively to move the wheel in one direction.

v. To stop with a pawl.

n. A pivoted tongue, or sliding bolt, on one part of a machine, adapted to fall into notches, or interdental spaces, on another part, as a ratchet wheel, in such a manner as to permit motion in one direction and prevent it in the reverse, as in a windlass; a catch, click, or detent. See Illust. of ratchet wheel.

v. To stop with a pawl; to drop the pawls off.

n. A short iron bar acting as a catch or brake to prevent a windlass or capstan from turning back. See cuts under capstan and pattern-chain.

n. A bar pivoted to a movable or fixed support at one end, and having its opposite end adapted to fit the teeth of a ratchet-wheel or ratchet-bar, used either for holding the ratchet-wheel or -bar in a position to which it has been moved by other mechanism (as in the case where the pawl is pivoted to a fixed support), or for moving it (as when the pawl is pivoted to a movable support).

n. Cross pawl, in ship-building.

n. a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward

"The chances of the pawl wearing excessively or shearing off are slim, but the parking brake still helps you avoid the threat of a car rolling away."

pawl ring   

stop    catch   

pawl and half pawl    spring-pawl    gravity pawl   

ratchet wheel    Paul    pall   

lever    catch   

forend    detent    ejector    spring-loaded    clevis    plunger    quick-release    gearshift    latch    retractor