GAVEL
What does "GAVEL" mean?
A small mallet a judge or chairperson strikes to call for order or attention.
Meanings
- A wooden hammer used by a presiding officer to signal order, decision, or the close of business. The judge banged the gavel and the courtroom fell silent.
- Authority to preside, especially over a legislative body. After the election the party held the gavel in both chambers. figurative
Did you know?
- Despite being the gavel's natural home in the popular imagination, the U.S. Supreme Court bench has no gavel - the Chief Justice keeps order by voice alone.
Word origin
Of uncertain origin; recorded in 19th-century American English, possibly from a dialect word for a stonemason's or carpenter's setting-hammer.
Remember it
GAVEL ends in 'VEL' like 'velocity' - the speed at which a judge can shut down your argument.
A little poem
One crack of wood, and argument is through-
the smallest hammer says what's law to you.
couplet
Wordplay
- The judge's gavel went to therapy. Turns out it had too many issues to bang out on its own.
What it teaches
Real authority rarely needs to shout; sometimes one small, decisive sound settles the whole room.
Quick facts
What does GAVEL mean?
A small mallet a judge or chairperson strikes to call for order or attention.
Is GAVEL a valid word?
Yes — GAVEL is one of the answer words in Wordul, the daily word game.
How many letters is GAVEL?
GAVEL has 5 letters and 2 syllables.
Where does GAVEL come from?
Of uncertain origin; recorded in 19th-century American English, possibly from a dialect word for a stonemason's or carpenter's setting-hammer.
What can GAVEL teach us?
Real authority rarely needs to shout; sometimes one small, decisive sound settles the whole room.
How players do
Be the first to solve it.