noun
- small hammers used by judges, auctioneers, or meeting chairpersons to call for attention or order
Examples
- The judge banged her gavel to restore order in the courtroom.
- The auctioneer’s gavel came down with a sharp crack.
- Committee chairs use gavels to begin and end meetings.
- The wooden gavels were carved from solid oak.
- She collected antique gavels from estate sales.
- The sound of gavels echoed through the auction house.