jackhammer

[ jak-ham-er ]

noun

1. a portable drill operated by compressed air and used to drill rock, break up pavement, etc.

jackhammer

/ ˈdʒækˌhæmə /

noun

1. a hand-held hammer drill, driven by compressed air, for drilling rocks, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of jackhammer¹

An Americanism dating back to 1925–30; jack ¹ + hammer

Example Sentences

We are on the set of “Tecto,” named for a superhero — played by Adam, who is played by Billy Magnussen — whose gimmicks are an “invisible jackhammer” and a glove that can cause earthquakes.

From Los Angeles Times

Twenty years ago, a few of Los Angeles’ West Adams residents and their friends had a novel idea: take a jackhammer to break up the asphalt and cement at their neighborhood’s 24th Street Elementary School to plant shade trees and a garden.

From Los Angeles Times

The hard road to restoring the rule of law to which Trump has repeatedly taken a jackhammer is paved by enforcing the law.

From Salon

Let’s say you’re out on some rugged outcropping and you need to jump on your jackhammer for a few minutes.

From Slate

After identifying the fossil — found in the Hell Creek Formation, a rocky area south of Marmarth, N.D., that dates back more than 65 million years — Dr. Lyson led an 11-day excavation that involved removing the overlying rock with a 70-pound jackhammer, picks and shovels.

From New York Times