gavel

¹

[ gav-uhl ]

noun

1. a small mallet used by the presiding officer of a meeting, a judge, etc., usually to signal for attention or order.
2. a similar mallet used by an auctioneer to indicate acceptance of the final bid.
3. Masonry. kevel ².

verb (used with object)

1. to chair (a legislative session, convention, meeting, etc.).
2. (of a presiding officer)
   1. to request or maintain (order at a meeting) by striking a gavel.
   2. to begin or put into effect (a legislative session, motion, etc.) by striking a gavel.

gavel

²

[ gav-uhl ]

noun

1. feudal rent or tribute.

gavel

/ ˈɡævəl /

noun

1. a small hammer used by a chairman, auctioneer, etc, to call for order or attention
2. a hammer used by masons to trim rough edges off stones

Word History and Origins

Origin of gavel¹

An Americanism dating back to 1795–1805; origin uncertain

Origin of gavel²

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of gavel¹

C19: of unknown origin

Example Sentences

And that day could unfold in very different ways depending on who has the gavel.

From Salon

If Johnson passes spending legislation with Democratic support, however, he will enrage the same hard-line conservatives who already wrenched the gavel away from Kevin McCarthy, the last speaker who disappointed them.

From Salon

In the book, Pelosi gets from A to B—acknowledging the difficulty, and being in “awe of the courage of the House Democrats” when she brought down the gavel—without delving too far into the grimy business of how the votes were won.

From Slate

Dingell, in that 2009–10 Congress, was recently out of his long-held job atop the Energy and Commerce Committee after California Rep. Henry Waxman “had been elected by the members” to take the committee’s gavel.

From Slate

This matter-of-fact description of how Dingell lost his gavel is Pelosi, and much of her book, in a nutshell, in how it elides the grisly details.

From Slate