Anyone with an OED? I need to know if rawl is a word

[UnderRated]

as in rawl plug (or anything else).

I suspect it isn't but I argued and argued that it was and I would hate to admit that I may have been wrong.

It doesn't appear in American dictionaries.

Please tell me it is a real word and not a proper noun.

Rawlplugs were invented by John Rawlings - before then they were known as wall plugs. So, there is no such thing as a rawl.

No no no noooooooo

I looked on wikipedia and it said that.

It must have a meaning by itself?

I don't eat humble pie.

Argh

but thank you for looking

Rawlplug (noun and verb, capitalised) has an entry, but I"m sorry to say no entry for rawl or even Rawl.

Have a little custard with the pie... might make it more palatable...

Can I have icecream with it too?

. No meaning by itself, it's just someone's name.

I always thought a rawl was something tbh. Like an awl.

How about rupee? Not capitalised.

Thanks for trying to make me feel better

Rupee is not capitalised.

I feel like those types in Dictionary Corner on Countdown .

Have you just come in from a night out arguing over the R section?

Yipppeeee, I'm allowed rupee.

Actually, arguing over the R section was Saturday night. I'm still brooding over it. There's no end to the fun in my house

Am glad you have been able to fulfil your dream job, VG. I need to go to bed before I my sulking gets serious.

Ah, you were playing Scrabble, then? But if you were arguing that "rawl" was a real word, what did you think it meant?

No, it was Boggle

I don't know what I think it meant. I didn't know it was a trade name, I was hoping it might be something technical & DIY related that I didn't yet know about

Just looked up 'rawl' on the OED online, and it gave me this:

Rawlplug n. A proprietary name for a kind of thin cylindrical plug, made of fibre or plastic, which can be inserted into a hole in masonry, etc., in order to hold a screw or nail. Also applied loosely to any plug of this type.

Also Rawl, a proprietary term used attrib. or as a prefix in names of tools, screws, bolts, and related accessories.

So you can probably get away with it. If Boggle allows trade names.

Thanks Botbot. I think proper nouns are not allowed. That was my problem.

I just looked at OED online to see how much it costs to subscribe and it is $295 a year

Over here you can access it free through your library card - they've got some sort of scheme set up. Don't know if they do it over there. Details here

Strornery, no rawl or Rawl entry in my (print) OED, will check edition tomorrow.

Ok, I conceded. Humble Pie duly eaten

I really should know better than to play word games with a journalist.

Will see if my sister will give me her library card number so I can use the online version, thanks Botbot.

And VG

I think you should definitely get an award for tenacity though. I would have backed down immediately in the face of journalism/scrabble player.

[cue National Anthem]

You're right, arfishy. I do indeed deserve a medal

It's in my dictionary:

rawl n. the anguished cry made when having to concede defeat in a matter of pedantry.

I know this is a really old thread but this subject has just come up in a repeat of Only Connect on BBC 4!

I thought it did!
OP, don't eat humble pie. Eat umbel(l?) pie.

If you are a member of your local library, you shoukd be able to have on-line access to it in their reference section.