hammer

I. noun Etymology: Middle English hamer, from Old English hamor; akin to Old High German hamar hammer, and perhaps to Old Church Slavic kamen-, kamy stone, Greek akmē point, edge — more at edge Date: before 12th century 1. a. a hand tool consisting of a solid head set crosswise on a handle and used for pounding b. a power tool that often substitutes a metal block or a drill for the hammerhead 2. something that resembles a hammer in form or action: as a. a lever with a striking head for ringing a bell or striking a gong b. (1) an arm that strikes the cap in a percussion lock to ignite the propelling charge (2) a part of the action of a modern gun that strikes the primer of the cartridge in firing or that strikes the firing pin to ignite the cartridge c. malleus d. gavel e. (1) a padded mallet in a piano action for striking a string (2) a hand mallet for playing on various percussion instruments (as a xylophone) 3. a metal sphere thrown for distance in the hammer throw 4. accelerator b II. verb (hammered; hammering) Date: 14th century intransitive verb 1. to strike blows especially repeatedly with or as if with a hammer ; pound 2. to make repeated efforts; especially to reiterate an opinion or attitude <

the lectures all hammered away at the same points

> transitive verb 1. a. to beat, drive, or shape with repeated blows of a hammer b. to fasten or build with a hammer 2. to strike or drive with a force suggesting a hammer blow or repeated blows <

hammered the ball over the fence

> <

tried to hammer me into submission

> 3. to criticize severely • hammerer noun