HAMMER

I. noun see: edge Date: before 12th century 1. a hand tool consisting of a solid head set crosswise on a handle and used for pounding, a power tool that often substitutes a metal block or a drill for the ~head, something that resembles a ~ in form or action: as, a lever with a striking head for ringing a bell or striking a gong, b. an arm that strikes the cap in a percussion lock to ignite the propelling charge, 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, malleus , gavel , e. a padded mallet in a piano action for striking a string, a hand mallet for playing on various percussion instruments (as a xylophone), a metal sphere thrown for distance in the ~ throw, accelerator b, II. verb (~ed; ~ing) Date: 14th century intransitive verb to strike blows especially repeatedly with or as if with a ~ ; pound , to make repeated efforts, transitive verb 1. to beat, drive, or shape with repeated blows of a ~, to fasten or build with a ~, to strike or drive with a force suggesting a ~ blow or repeated blows , to criticize severely, ~er noun