claw hammer

American  

noun

1. a hammer having a head with one end curved and cleft for pulling out nails.

2. Informal.  a dress coat.

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claw hammer British  

noun

1. Also called: carpenter's hammer.  a hammer with a cleft at one end of the head for extracting nails

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Other Word Forms

• clawhammer adjective

Etymology

Origin of claw hammer

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

During a trial which ended in June, the court heard the defendant - who was 16 at the time of the attack - had armed himself with three claw hammers.

From BBC

She hit her more than 50 times with a claw hammer.

From BBC

A man who killed his millionairess wife with a claw hammer has lost a court bid to be freed from prison.

From BBC

They had all been killed with a claw hammer.

From BBC

A man who killed his wife with a claw hammer has had his automatic release from prison blocked by the government.

From BBC