I. ˈha-mər 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
•
- under the hammer
II. verb
( ham·mered ; ham·mer·ing ˈha-mər-iŋ, ˈham-riŋ)
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 hammer ed 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
hammer ed the ball over the fence
tried to hammer me into submission
3. : to criticize severely
• ham·mer·er ˈha-mər-ər noun