auger

au·ger

noun \ˈȯ-gər\

Definition of AUGER

: any of various tools or devices with a helical shaft or part that are used for boring holes (as in wood, soil, or ice) or moving loose material (as snow)

Illustration of AUGER

Origin of AUGER

Middle English, alteration (resulting from false division of a nauger) of nauger, from Old English nafogār; akin to Old High German nabugēr auger, Old English nafu nave, gār spear — more at nave, gore

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Hardware Terms

adze, awl, chock, ferrule, punch, tang

Rhymes with AUGER

augur, logger, maugre, sauger

auger

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Tool (or bit) used with a carpenter's brace for drilling holes, usually in wood. It looks like a corkscrew and produces extremely clean holes, almost regardless of how large the bit is. Expansive auger bits have adjustable blades with cutting edges and spurs that can be extended radially to cut large holes. Large augers are used to bore holes in soil for fence posts and telephone poles, or in ice for ice fishing. Horizontal augers as much as 8 ft (2.5 m) in diameter are used in coal mining.