mallet

Meanings

Noun

• A type of hammer with a larger-than-usual head made of wood, rubber or similar non-iron material, used by woodworkers for driving a tool, such as a chisel. A kind of maul.
• A weapon resembling the tool, but typically much larger.
• A small hammer-like tool used for playing certain musical instruments.
• A light beetle with a long handle used in playing croquet.
• The stick used to strike the ball in the sport of polo.

Verb

• To beat or strike with, or as if with, a mallet.

Origin

• From Middle English malet, maylet, from Old French mallet, maillet, diminutive of mal, mail, from Latin malleus ("a hammer, mall, mallet").