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noun

mallet

MA-liht

Mallet (noun) means a hammer with a large head, usually made of wood or rubber, used to strike a tool or object without damaging it. Example: “He tapped the chisel gently with a wooden mallet.”

noun
1
A hammer with a large head, usually made of wood or rubber, used to strike a tool or object without damaging it.
"He tapped the chisel gently with a wooden mallet."
2
A padded stick used to strike balls in croquet or polo, or to play certain percussion instruments.
"She struck the xylophone keys with soft mallets."
"He lined up his shot with the croquet mallet."

How to use mallet

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA hammer-like tool with a big head — used in woodworking, croquet, polo, or playing instruments like xylophones.

Word forms

malleted past tense, mallets plural, Mallets plural, mallets singular

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He tapped the chisel gently with a wooden _____.

Etymology

From Old French maillet, a diminutive of mail ("hammer"), from Latin malleus.

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for mallet

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Frequently asked questions

What does “mallet” mean?

The word “mallet” means a hammer with a large head, usually made of wood or rubber, used to strike a tool or object without damaging it. In plain terms, a hammer-like tool with a big head — used in woodworking, croquet, polo, or playing instruments like xylophones.

How do you pronounce “mallet”?

“Mallet” is pronounced MA-liht (/ˈmælɪt/ in IPA).

How do you use “mallet” in a sentence?

Here is “mallet” used in a sentence: “He tapped the chisel gently with a wooden mallet.”

What part of speech is “mallet”?

“Mallet” is a noun.

Where does the word “mallet” come from?

The word “mallet” comes from Latin. From Old French maillet, a diminutive of mail ("hammer"), from Latin malleus.

How many meanings does “mallet” have?

“Mallet” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hammer with a large head, usually made of wood or rubber, used to strike a tool or object without damaging it.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial