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bradawl

American  
[brad-awl] / ˈbrædˌɔl /

noun

Carpentry.
  1. an awl for making small holes in wood for brads.


bradawl British  
/ ˈbrædˌɔːl /

noun

  1. an awl used to pierce wood, leather, or other materials for the insertion of brads, screws, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bradawl

First recorded in 1815–25; brad + awl

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Hilliard, with his hand on the outside of the barrel, stopped the work when he felt the point of the auger coming through, and he himself completed the hole from the outside with his bradawl.

From The Pit Prop Syndicate by Crofts, Freeman Wills

"Ah! a nip is hardly on all fours with a bradawl, Gustavus."

From The Prophet of Berkeley Square by Hichens, Robert Smythe

He perceived in a very prominent position upon a silver salver, the bradawl laid out, according to order, by the obedient Mr. Ferdinand.

From The Prophet of Berkeley Square by Hichens, Robert Smythe

The manager started as if some firm hand had driven a bradawl into him.

From Psmith in the City by Wodehouse, P. G. (Pelham Grenville)

Then he began to sing, in a shrill voice, that worked its way, as a bradawl through wood, past all the noise of the elements.

From The Heart of Denise and Other Tales by Levett-Yeats, S. (Sidney)