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Pawl vs Sprag - What's the difference?

pawl | sprag |

In transitive terms the difference between pawl and sprag

is that pawl is to stop with a pawl while sprag is to prop or sustain with a sprag.

As an adjective sprag is

alternative form of lang=en.

pawl

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A pivoted catch designed to fall into a notch on a ratchet wheel so as to allow movement in only one direction (e.g. on a windlass or in a clock mechanism), or alternatively to move the wheel in one direction.
  • * 1994 , Cormac McCarthy, The Crossing :
    • The nails in the rim of the wheel went ratcheting over the leather pawl and the wheel slowed and came to a stop and the woman turned to the crowd and smiled.
  • * 1910 , Victor Appleton, Tom Swift and his Motorcycle
    • A pawl is a sort of catch that fits into a ratchet wheel and pushes it around, or it may be used as a catch to prevent the backward motion of a windlass or the wheel on a derrick.

    Derived terms

    * pawl bitt * pawl rim

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To stop with a pawl.

    • Derived terms

    * pawl the capstan

    sprag

    English

    Etymology 1

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • * Shakespeare
    • A good sprag memory.

    Etymology 2

    See .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A billet of wood; a piece of timber, a similar solid object or constructed unit used as a prop.
  • * 1956 , United States Department of the Army, United States Department of the Air Force, Principles of Automotive Vehicles , Technical Manual 9-8000, page 325,
    • A sprag' (fig. 349) is a steel block so shaped as to act as a wedge in the complete assembly. In the '''sprag''' unit under discussion, there are 42 ' sprags assembled into an outer race and held in place by two energizing springs (fig. 350).
  • * 1981 , (US) Departments of the Army and Air Force, Maintenance: Direct Support, and General Support Level , Technical Manual 9-2520-246-34-1, page 2-201,
    • When checking sprags', anvil and spindle ends of micrometer and flat back of ' sprag must all rest on a flat surface as shown in view A.
    Since wear on all sprags' in any one '''sprag''' unit will be the same, it is only necessary to check 5 ' sprags in each assembly.
  • * 2008 , Cliff Ruggles, GM Automatic Overdrive Transmission Builder's and Swapper's Guide , page 52,
    • The sprag' should still be taken apart for visual inspection of the components. I have seen '''sprags''' that still functioned correctly, but when taken apart, the spring cage that holds the ' sprag elements was completely destroyed.
  • * 2009 , Jack Erjavec, Automotive Technology: A Systems Approach , Cengage Learning, page 1192,
    • A one-way sprag' clutch ('''figure 40-36''') consists of a hub and a drum separated by figure-eight-shaped metal pieces called '''sprags'''. The ' sprags are shaped this way so they can lock between the races when a race is turned in one direction only.
    Derived terms
    * sprag clutch

    Verb

    (spragg)
  • To check the motion of, as a carriage on a steep slope, by putting a sprag between the spokes of the wheel.
  • To prop or sustain with a sprag.

    • Etymology 3

    Compare Icelandic (spraka)? a small flounder.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A young salmon.
    • (Webster 1913)