drill

I. verb Etymology: Dutch drillen Date: 1619 transitive verb 1. a. to fix something in the mind or habit pattern of by repetitive instruction <

drill pupils in spelling

> b. to impart or communicate by repetition <

impossible to drill the simplest idea into some people

> c. to train or exercise in military drill 2. a. (1) to bore or drive a hole in (2) to make by piercing action <

drill a hole

> b. to shoot with or as if with a gun c. (1) to propel (as a ball) with force or accuracy <

drilled a single to right field

> (2) to hit with force <

drilled the batter with the first pitch

> intransitive verb 1. to make a hole with a drill 2. to engage in an exercise • drillability noun • drillable adjective • driller noun II. noun Date: 1611 1. an instrument with an edged or pointed end for making holes in hard substances by revolving or by a succession of blows; also a machine for operating such an instrument 2. the act or exercise of training soldiers in marching and in executing prescribed movements with a weapon 3. a. a physical or mental exercise aimed at perfecting facility and skill especially by regular practice b. a formal exercise by a team of marchers c. the approved, correct, or usual procedure for accomplishing something ; routine 4. a. a marine snail (Urosalpinx cinerea) destructive to oysters by boring through their shells and feeding on the soft parts b. any of several mollusks related to the drill 5. a drilling sound III. noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1644 a western African baboon (Mandrillus leucophaeus syn. Papio leucophaeus) having a black face and brown coat and closely related to the typical mandrills IV. noun Etymology: perhaps from drill small stream, from obsolete drill to trickle, drip Date: 1727 1. a. a shallow furrow or trench into which seed is sown b. a row of seed sown in such a furrow 2. a planting implement that makes holes or furrows, drops in the seed and sometimes fertilizer, and covers them with earth V. transitive verb Date: circa 1740 1. to sow (seeds) by dropping along a shallow furrow 2. a. to sow with seed or set with seedlings inserted in drills b. to distribute seed or fertilizer in by means of a drill VI. noun Etymology: short for drilling Date: 1743 a durable cotton twilled fabric