in medieval england, the word "gavel" could refer to a tribute or rent payment made with something other than cash. these agreements were set in english land-court with the sound of a "gavel", a word which may come from the (meaning "tribute"). "gavel" would be prefixed to any non-monetary payment given to a lord (for example: "gavel-malt") and can be found as a prefix to other terms such as "gavelkind", a system of partible inheritance formerly found in parts of the uk and ireland. a "gavel" may also have referred to a kind of mason's tool, a setting maul that came into use as a way to maintain order in meetings.