peen

[ peen ]

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

/ 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)

Word History and Origins

Origin of peen¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of peen¹

C17: variant of pane, perhaps from French panne, ultimately from Latin pinna point

Example Sentences

He has shown his appreciation with constant references to his peen in any and every media outlet.

From The Daily Beast

Remember when you had to flash a little peen in the movies to get some cred as a leading man (miss you, Harvey Keitel)?

From The Daily Beast

A strip of galvanized metal is placed over the depressions in the die and a ball-peen hammer used to drive the metal into the die.

From Project Gutenberg

Among the listeners were the brothers Pinzon (peen-thn), experienced seamen from the neighboring port of Palos (pahls).

From Project Gutenberg

Of dot Sobber fellow peen guilty he ought to be hung up on der pottom of der sea alretty quick!

From Project Gutenberg

Oof you hatn't done vat you dit, I bed you somet'ing der modor-car vould haf peen a lot oof junk.

From Project Gutenberg

Py shinks, I haf peen vatching as sharp as some veasels, aber I don'd see nodding.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Peen

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.

Where does peen come from?

The first records of the term peen come from the early 1500s. It is thought to have been borrowed from early Scandinavian. It is similar in origin to the term pen and pin.

The peen of a hammer comes in different shapes, such as a ball, wedge, and cross. Peens are almost always attached to hammers and rarely are seen on their own, but there are some specialized tools used only for peening something. Especially when using a flat or ball peen, the goal is to flatten or smooth out bumps, as well as to texture or dent something.

Occasionally, peen can be used as a verb meaning to hammer lightly, not necessarily with the peen, but with the face. Sometimes, peen is misused as vulgar slang for penis.

Did you know … ?

What are some words that share a root or word element with peen? 

• pen
• pin

What are some words that often get used in discussing peen?

• ball
• flatten
• hammer
• smooth
• texture

How is peen used in real life?

Peen is not commonly used, normally used in the context of construction, demolition, or mechanics.

Gordie Howe honored in hometown Saskatoon. Great scorer, Great competitor, Remembered best for elbows like Ball-peen hammers!

— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) February 7, 2015

That which does not kill us makes us want to bash their heads in with a ball peen hammer.

— Danny DeVito (@DannyDeVito) December 10, 2010

Try using peen!

Is peen used correctly in the following sentence?

The hammer fell peen first into the flimsy box.