pawl

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

[Probably from Dutch pal, from Latin pālus, stake.]

The driving link or holding link of a ratchet mechanism, also called a click or detent. In the illustration the driving pawl at A, forced upward by lever B, engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel and rotates it counterclockwise. Holding pawl C prevents clockwise rotation of the wheel when the pawl at A is making its return stroke, Pawl and ratchet are an open, upper pair.

Holding and driving pawls with a ratchet wheel.

Driving and holding pawls likewise engage rack teeth on the plunger of a ratchet lifting jack, such as those supplied with automobiles. A ratchet wheel with a holding pawl only, acting as a safety brake, is fastened to the drum of a capstan, winch, or other powered hoisting device.

A double pawl can drive in either direction or be easily reversed in holding. A cam pawl prevents the wheel from turning clockwise by a wedging action while permitting free counterclockwise rotation. This technique is used in the automobile hill-holder to prevent the vehicle's rolling backward. See also Escapement.

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The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a hinged catch that fits into a notch of a ratchet to move a wheel forward or prevent it from moving backward
  Synonyms: detent, click, dog

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Dansk (Danish)
n. - klinkehage

Nederlands (Dutch)
pal, met een pal vastzetten

Français (French)
n. - (Tech) cliquet, (Tech) linguet

Deutsch (German)
n. - Sperrklinke

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (μηχαν.) επίσχεστρο, καστάνια, ανασταλτικό νύχι
v. - ασφαλίζω με καστάνια

Italiano (Italian)
cricchetto, fissare

Português (Portuguese)
n. - lingüeta (f)
v. - travar com a lingüeta

Русский (Russian)
защелка, защелкивать

Español (Spanish)
n. - trinquete, linguete

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - spärrhake, pall (sjö.)
v. - hejda m pallar (sjö.)

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
棘爪, 制转杆

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 棘爪, 制轉杆

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 톱니 멈춤쇠

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 歯止め

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) سقاطه, لسين توقيف الدولاب المسنن, مساكه (فعل) يلقط, يمسك‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮מוט קצר לנעילת מנוף, מוט עם קרס לעצירת גלגל, תפס‬

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