triphammer

or trip ham·mer

[ trip-ham-er ]

/ ˈtrɪpˌhæm ər /

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noun

Machinery. a heavy hammer raised and then let fall by means of some tripping device, as a cam.

adjective

of, resembling, or characteristic of the repetitive and forceful pounding of a triphammer: He was subjected to triphammer interrogation by the police detectives.

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Origin of triphammer

An Americanism dating back to 1775–85; trip¹ + hammer

Words nearby triphammer

tripe-de-roche, tripelennamine, tripersonal, tripersonality, tripetalous, triphammer, triphasic, triphenylmethane, triphenylmethane dye, triphibian, triphibious

How to use triphammer in a sentence

Geraldine's heart beat like a little triphammer, but she did not look up from her plate, nor change her listless expression.
In Apple-Blossom Time|Clara Louise Burnham
She had lifted her gaze to meet his, quite sure that her answer was not in doubt, but now her heart was beating like a triphammer.
Mavericks|William MacLeod Raine
When intoxicated, his tongue rapped out fun and fury like a triphammer.
The Lane That Had No Turning, Complete|Gilbert Parker
Frank's heart was beating like a triphammer and his nerves were at a fearful tension.
Army Boys on the Firing Line|Homer Randall

The fiddler twisted and turned, but his head went like a triphammer on the seat.
Baddeck and That Sort of Thing|Charles Dudley Warner

British Dictionary definitions for triphammer

triphammer

/ (ˈtrɪpˌhæmə) /

noun

a power hammer that is raised or tilted by a cam and allowed to fall under gravity

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