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Javel vs Gavel - What's the difference?

javel | gavel |

In obsolete terms the difference between javel and gavel

is that javel is a vagabond while gavel is usury; interest on money.

As a verb gavel is

to use a gavel.

javel

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete) A vagabond.
    • Spenser.
    ----

    gavel

    English

    (wikipedia gavel)

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) gafol.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (historical) Rent.
  • (obsolete) Usury; interest on money.

    • Etymology 2

    Origin obscure. Perhaps alteration of . More at (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A wooden mallet, used by a courtroom judge, or by a committee chairman, struck against a sounding block to quieten those present, or by an auctioneer to accept the highest bid at auction.
  • (figuratively) The legal system as a whole.
  • A mason's setting maul.
    • (Knight)

    Verb

  • To use a gavel.
    • Usage notes
    * In US English, the participles are gaveled and gaveling, in British English they are gavelled and gavelling.

    Etymology 3

    (etyl) gavelle, (etyl) javelle, probably diminutive from (etyl) (lena) . Compare heave.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A small heap of grain, not tied up into a bundle.
    • (Wright)

    Etymology 4

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A gable.
    • (Halliwell)
    English terms with unknown etymologies ----