catflap.org Online Dictionary Query |
2 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]
Hammer \Ham"mer\ (h[a^]m"m[~e]r), n. [OE. hamer, AS. hamer,
hamor; akin to D. hamer, G. & Dan. hammer, Sw. hammare, Icel.
hamarr, hammer, crag, and perh. to Gr. 'a`kmwn anvil, Skr.
a[,c]man stone.]
1. An instrument for driving nails, beating metals, and the
like, consisting of a head, usually of steel or iron,
fixed crosswise to a handle.
[1913 Webster]
With busy hammers closing rivets up. --Shak.
[1913 Webster]
2. Something which in form or action resembles the common
hammer; as:
(a) That part of a clock which strikes upon the bell to
indicate the hour.
(b) The padded mallet of a piano, which strikes the wires,
to produce the tones.
(c) (Anat.) The malleus. See under Ear.
(d) (Gun.) That part of a gunlock which strikes the
percussion cap, or firing pin; the cock; formerly,
however, a piece of steel covering the pan of a
flintlock musket and struck by the flint of the cock
to ignite the priming.
(e) Also, a person or thing that smites or shatters; as,
St. Augustine was the hammer of heresies.
[1913 Webster]
He met the stern legionaries [of Rome] who had
been the ``massive iron hammers'' of the whole
earth. --J. H.
Newman.
[1913 Webster]
3. (Athletics) A spherical weight attached to a flexible
handle and hurled from a mark or ring. The weight of head
and handle is usually not less than 16 pounds.
[Webster 1913 Suppl.]
Atmospheric hammer, a dead-stroke hammer in which the
spring is formed by confined air.
Drop hammer, Face hammer, etc. See under Drop, Face,
etc.
Hammer fish. See Hammerhead.
Hammer hardening, the process of hardening metal by
hammering it when cold.
Hammer shell (Zo["o]l.), any species of Malleus, a genus
of marine bivalve shells, allied to the pearl oysters,
having the wings narrow and elongated, so as to give them
a hammer-shaped outline; -- called also hammer oyster.
To bring to the hammer, to put up at auction.
[1913 Webster]
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]
Hammer \Ham"mer\, n. [OE. hamer, AS. hamer, hamor; akin to D.
hamer, G. & Dan. hammer, Sw. hammare, Icel. hamarr, hammer,
crag, and perh. to Gr. ? anvil, Skr. a?man stone.]
1. An instrument for driving nails, beating metals, and the
like, consisting of a head, usually of steel or iron,
fixed crosswise to a handle.
With busy hammers closing rivets up. --Shak.
2. Something which in firm or action resembles the common
hammer; as:
(a) That part of a clock which strikes upon the bell to
indicate the hour.
(b) The padded mallet of a piano, which strikes the wires,
to produce the tones.
(c) (Anat.) The malleus. See under Ear. (Gun.) That part
of a gunlock which strikes the percussion cap, or
firing pin; the cock; formerly, however, a piece of
steel covering the pan of a flintlock musket and
struck by the flint of the cock to ignite the priming.
(e) Also, a person of thing that smites or shatters; as,
St. Augustine was the hammer of heresies.
He met the stern legionaries [of Rome] who had
been the ``massive iron hammers'' of the whole
earth. --J. H.
Newman.
Atmospheric hammer, a dead-stroke hammer in which the
spring is formed by confined air.
Drop hammer, Face hammer, etc. See under Drop, Face,
etc.
Hammer fish. See Hammerhead.
Hammer hardening, the process of hardening metal by
hammering it when cold.
Hammer shell (Zo["o]l.), any species of Malleus, a genus
of marine bivalve shells, allied to the pearl oysters,
having the wings narrow and elongated, so as to give them
a hammer-shaped outline; -- called also hammer oyster.
To bring to the hammer, to put up at auction.
Questions or comments about this site? Contact dictionary@catflap.org
Access Stats