[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/gavel/)

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# gavel

noun (a gavel, gavels); verb (gavel, gavels, gavelled/gaveled, gavelling/gaveling — rare)

«gavel» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A small wooden hammer that a judge, auctioneer or chairperson bangs to get attention, keep order or show that something is decided or sold. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gavel/#m1)

### In the lessons

A law, court and auction word. In US courts a judge bangs a gavel; in British courts judges do not actually use gavels, but auctioneers do. «Going, going, gone!» — bang of the gavel — means sold. In Alice in Wonderland the King of Hearts is the judge at the trial of the Knave, though Carroll's court is noisy and silly.

### Examples

- The judge banged the gavel and shouted, «Order in court!» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gavel/#x1)
- The auctioneer struck the gavel: «Sold to the lady in red!» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gavel/#x2)
- Our class president used a gavel to start the meeting. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gavel/#x3)
- The gavel came down and the painting was sold. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gavel/#x4)
- In the school mock trial, Tom held the gavel. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gavel/#x5)
- The chairwoman tapped her gavel for silence. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gavel/#x6)

### Note

Countable. Pronounced GAV-ul. Myth: English judges don't use gavels — that is mostly American and on TV. «The gavel came down» means a decision was made.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «gavel» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gavel/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«gavel» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gavel.html) on Mova free.