Mallet

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈmælɪt/
• Rhymes: -ælɪt

Origin

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

Full definition of mallet

Noun

1. A small maul with a short handle, used especially for driving a tool, as a chisel or the like.
2. A weapon resembling the tool, but typically much larger.
• 1786, Francis Grose, A Treatise on Ancient Armour and Weapons, page 51:The Mallet of arms, according to the representation of it given by Father Daniel, exactly resembles the wooden instrument of that name, now in use, except in the length of the handle, it was like the hammer of arms, to be used with both hands, indeed it differed very little from that weapon in its form.
3. A light beetle with a long handle used in playing croquet.
4. The stick used to strike the ball in the sport of polo.

Derived terms

• malleter
• Mallet (cryptography)

Verb

1. To strike with a mallet.

Related terms

• malleable
• malleate