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

Derived Forms

• clawhammer
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of claw hammer

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Keep a box with these essential basics: a tape measure, claw hammer, utility knife, level, crescent wrenches, hex keys, a handsaw, pliers, multiple screwdrivers and a collection of screws and nails.

From Seattle Times • May 29, 2023

During a search of his vehicle, troopers found a claw hammer behind the passenger seat.

From New York Times • Aug. 29, 2022

TopBuilt makes a 16-ounce claw hammer that should be more than adequate for your nail-driving needs and for pulling out any old or poorly sunk nails, too.

From Slate • Aug. 16, 2018

Pegboard is the altar of the weekend hobbyist, home to the literal tools of his worship — not crucifix or thurible, but claw hammer and crescent wrench, each hanging neatly on its own hook.

From Washington Post • Jan. 31, 2016

Getting a claw hammer, he started tearing off the top of the box.

From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls