gavel

1 of 3

noun (1)

gav·​el ˈga-vəl 

: rent or tribute in medieval England

gavel

2 of 3

noun (2)

: a mallet used (as by a presiding officer or auctioneer) for commanding attention or confirming an action (such as a vote or sale)

gavel

3 of 3

verb

gaveled or gavelled; gaveling or gavelling ˈga-v(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

: to bring or force by use of a gavel

gaveled the audience to silence

Examples of gavel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Louisiana Republican won the gavel after last year’s historic ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), catapulting him from the vice chair of the House GOP conference to the top lawmaker in the chamber in a stunning fashion. —Mike Lillis, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024

In the fight of his political life, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan last week staved off a challenge from the right wing of his party, but now some GOP lawmakers are revamping their effort to keep the Beaumont Republican from keeping the speaker's gavel for another term. —Hogan Gore, Austin American-Statesman, 4 June 2024

Verb

Scalise's support gives Barr a clear advantage to win one of the most coveted committee gavels in the next Congress. —Juliegrace Brufke, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024

In recent years, the Senate has used pro-forma sessions to gavel in even when the chamber is on recess in part to avoid recess appointments. —Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English gafol; akin to Old English giefan to give

Noun (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1835, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1925, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing gavel

• gavel-to-gavel

Kids Definition

gavel

noun

gav·​el

ˈgav-əl

: the mallet of an officer in charge of a meeting or of an auctioneer