∙ A wooden mallet, used by a courtroom judge (not UK), 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.
∙ The legal system as a whole (not UK). figuratively
∙ A mason's setting maul.
Verb
∙ To use a gavel.
Noun
∙ A small heap of grain, not tied up into a bundle.