clawhammer
1 of 2adjective
claw·ham·mer ˈklȯ-ˌha-mər 
: of, relating to, or being a style of banjo playing using the thumb and one or more fingers picking or strumming in a downward direction
claw hammer
2 of 2noun
1
: a hammer with one end of the head forked for pulling out nails
2
: tailcoat
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Fox News, 2 Aug. 2022 There are various types, including ball-peen, sledge and mallet, but the 16-ounce claw hammer, which has a head that is split and curved on one side, should handle most jobs and isn’t too heavy to wield. Laura Daily, Washington Post, 24 May 2022 In the woman’s possession, police found a claw hammer allegedly used to remove security devices from merchandise. cleveland, 4 Jan. 2022 Police said Cusseaux opened her front door with a claw hammer raised as officers were opening the security door to her unit. AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2021 Prosecutors said Johnson used a claw hammer to fatally bludgeon a manager, Mary Bratcher, 46, and employees Mabel Scruggs, 57, and Fred Jones, 58, during a closing-time robbery at the Casey’s General Store in Columbia on Feb. 12, 1994. NBC News, 7 May 2021 The victims were shot and attacked with a claw hammer. NBC News, 5 Oct. 2021 Clearly, Marcie and Gibbs were on the right track; the woman pulled from the lake matches the killer's MO: bludgeoned with a claw hammer and bound with red duct tape. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 21 Sep. 2021 In state court, Purkey was convicted for the death of another woman — 80-year-old Mary Ruth Bales, who was bludgeoned to death with a claw hammer the same year as Long’s murder. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Sep. 2020 See More
Noun
Sonoma County deputies shot and killed a shoeless 36-year-old man who led officers on a wild chase through rural wine country before threatening them with a claw hammer, tiller and rocks, authorities said in a statement released late Monday. Fox News, 2 Aug. 2022 There are various types, including ball-peen, sledge and mallet, but the 16-ounce claw hammer, which has a head that is split and curved on one side, should handle most jobs and isn’t too heavy to wield. Laura Daily, Washington Post, 24 May 2022 In the woman’s possession, police found a claw hammer allegedly used to remove security devices from merchandise. cleveland, 4 Jan. 2022 Police said Cusseaux opened her front door with a claw hammer raised as officers were opening the security door to her unit. AZCentral.com, 15 Dec. 2021 Prosecutors said Johnson used a claw hammer to fatally bludgeon a manager, Mary Bratcher, 46, and employees Mabel Scruggs, 57, and Fred Jones, 58, during a closing-time robbery at the Casey’s General Store in Columbia on Feb. 12, 1994. NBC News, 7 May 2021 The victims were shot and attacked with a claw hammer. NBC News, 5 Oct. 2021 Clearly, Marcie and Gibbs were on the right track; the woman pulled from the lake matches the killer's MO: bludgeoned with a claw hammer and bound with red duct tape. Sara Netzley, EW.com, 21 Sep. 2021 In state court, Purkey was convicted for the death of another woman — 80-year-old Mary Ruth Bales, who was bludgeoned to death with a claw hammer the same year as Long’s murder. Sarah Nelson, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Sep. 2020 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
1964, in the meaning defined above
Noun
circa 1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1