peen

American  

[peen] / pin /

noun

1. a wedgelike, spherical, or other striking end of a hammer head opposite the face.

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verb (used with object)

1. to enlarge, straighten, or smooth with a peen.

2. to strengthen (a metal surface) by light hammering or by bombardment with steel balls or shot.

peen British  

/ piːn /

noun

1. the end of a hammer head opposite the striking face, often rounded or wedge-shaped

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verb

1. (tr) to strike with the peen of a hammer or with a stream of metal shot in order to bend or shape (a sheet of metal)

Usage

What does peen mean? A peen is the round or wedge shaped end of a hammer, opposite its face. To peen is to enlarge, straighten, or smooth with a peen, as in Sahid smoothed the cut edge by peening it with a ball peen hammer. To peen is also to strengthen by lightly hammering it, as in In metal shop, we peened scrap pieces to learn how to strengthen metal. Example: Peen the bottom to give it a textured finish.

Etymology

Origin of peen

1505–15; earlier pen < Scandinavian; compare Swedish, Norwegian pen (noun) in same sense (perhaps < German Pinne peen). See pin

Example Sentences

Refurbished vintage ball peen hammers with ombré painted handles are already cropping up on Instagram.

From New York Times • Dec. 18, 2019

So this is not about paying $250 for the wok spatula with a few ball peen hammer dimples, it is all about saying, “Look at me, I can crack an egg with one hand!”

From New York Times • Mar. 26, 2018

I tumbled out of the car, barefoot, and how strange I must have looked to him: the ball peen hammer swinging from one hand, the teddy bear from the other.

From Salon • Jul. 24, 2012

Checks with these gauges are accompanied by constant hammering with both a ball peen hammer and then with a rawhide mallet to make minor adjustments and bring the blade into ever more perfect shape.

From Time Magazine Archive

You know how it hast peen wit' me, since poyhoot; for often ant often you ant I haf talket over t'ese t'ings in camp.

From The Chainbearer Or, The Littlepage Manuscripts by Cooper, James Fenimore