peen

American  

[peen] / pin /

noun

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

---

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

---

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