gavel Definition
a small hammer used by a person in charge of a meeting or an auction to signal for attention or order.
Using gavel: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "gavel" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The judge banged his gavel and called the court to order.
Example
The auctioneer raised his gavel and announced the winning bid.
Example
The chairman tapped his gavel to signal the end of the meeting.
gavel Synonyms and Antonyms
Phrases with gavel
to transfer the authority or responsibility of leading a meeting from one person to another
Example
After serving as the chairman for five years, he decided to pass the gavel to his successor.
gavel-to-gavel
referring to continuous coverage of an event, especially on television
Example
The network provided gavel-to-gavel coverage of the political convention.
Example
The speaker gavelled down the opposition's argument and declared the motion passed.
Origins of gavel
from Old English 'gafol', meaning 'tribute'
Summary: gavel in Brief
'Gavel' [ˈɡævəl] is a noun that refers to a small hammer used to signal attention or order in meetings or auctions. It is often used by judges, auctioneers, or chairpersons. The phrase 'pass the gavel' means to transfer the authority of leading a meeting to another person, while 'gavel-to-gavel' refers to continuous coverage of an event, especially on television.
