A small mallet used by a presiding officer or an auctioneer to signal for attention or order or to mark the conclusion of a transaction.
A maul used by masons in fitting stones.
tr.v.
gav·eled also gav·elled, gav·el·ing also gav·el·ling, gav·els also gav·els To bring about or compel by using a gavel: "The chairman . . . tries to gavel the demonstration to an end"(New Yorker).
(gāv'əl) 