mallet

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a hammer with a large head, usually made of wood, rubber, or another relatively soft material

   The carpenter tapped the joint into place with a wooden mallet.

2. 2
   noun

   a long-handled implement with a hammer-shaped head used in games such as croquet or polo

   She used the croquet mallet to send the ball through the hoop.

3. 3
   noun

   a light beater with a rounded or padded head for striking a percussion instrument

   The percussionist changed to a softer mallet for the final passage.

From Middle English maillet, borrowed from Old French maillet, the diminutive of mail ("hammer"). The French word ultimately comes from Latin malleus ("hammer").

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