clawhammer

1 of 2

adjective

claw·​ham·​mer ˈklȯ-ˌha-mər How to pronounce clawhammer (audio)
: 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 2

noun

1
: a hammer with one end of the head forked for pulling out nails
2

Examples of clawhammer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
For example, Fisk’s ball-peen hammer on Echo is different from his claw hammer on the former Netflix show. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 Bexar County District Courts Peter Van Sant: What's on the claw hammer that's of interest? Peter Van Sant, CBS News, 9 Dec. 2023 At the time, Cannon was serving a 15-year sentence for the violent assault of another woman who suffered permanent injuries after prosecutors say Cannon raped her and beat her viciously with a claw hammer, iron and kitchen toaster. CBS News, 20 July 2023 Cannon had been serving a 15-year sentence for the violent assault of another woman who suffered permanent injuries after prosecutors say Cannon raped her and beat her viciously with a claw hammer, iron and kitchen toaster. Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 21 July 2023 Barber was sentenced to death for beating 75-year-old Dorothy Epps to death in 2001 with his fists and a claw hammer. Ike Morgan | Imorgan@al.com, al, 11 July 2023 Prosecutors said Barber, a handyman, confessed to killing the 75-year-old with a claw hammer and fleeing with her purse. Kim Chandler, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2023 Prosecutors said Barber, a handyman who knew Epps' daughter, confessed to killing Epps with a claw hammer and fleeing with her purse. Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, Arkansas Online, 21 July 2023 Prosecutors said Barber, a handyman, confessed to killing Epps with a claw hammer and fleeing with her purse. CBS News, 21 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clawhammer.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1964, in the meaning defined above

Noun

circa 1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clawhammer was circa 1769

Dictionary Entries Near clawhammer

claw-foot

clawhammer

claw hammer

Cite this Entry

“Clawhammer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clawhammer. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

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