mattock
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of mattock
before 900; Middle English mattok, Old English mattuc
Vocabulary lists containing mattock
National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 2
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Vocabulary from Act 5
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
Using a small ax called a mattock to loosen the dirt, he uprooted several with a gentle tug, depositing them in a plastic grocery bag.
From New York Times ● Apr. 25, 2022
Otherwise, you can create planting holes with a sharp ax and mattock, and your new tree should expand its root system as the old tree’s roots decay.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 27, 2021
But her next disability check was three days away, and she didn’t have enough roots, not nearly enough, so down the mattock went again.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 6, 2017
She can appear as a fierce temple guardian, her hefty pick mattock hanging like a threat from her backpack.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 27, 2015
Nathan slammed the mattock to the side of the metal fence post until it wiggled like a loose tooth.
From "Healer of the Water Monster" by Brian Young
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
