bevel-faced hammer: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Very Low Frequency
UK/ˈbɛvəl feɪst ˈhæmə/US/ˈbɛvəl feɪst ˈhæmər/

Technical/Specialised

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Quick answer

What does “bevel-faced hammer” mean?

A type of hammer with a wedge-shaped (beveled) striking face on the head.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A type of hammer with a wedge-shaped (beveled) striking face on the head.

A specialised hammer designed for striking objects in confined spaces or at specific angles where a flat-faced hammer would not make proper contact. It is commonly used in metalworking, blacksmithing, or carpentry tasks requiring angled strikes.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant lexical differences. The term is technical jargon shared between UK and US trade professions.

Connotations

Technical precision, professional trade tool.

Frequency

Equally rare in both dialects, confined to specific trades like blacksmithing, metal fabrication, or fine woodworking.

Grammar

How to Use “bevel-faced hammer” in a Sentence

[Subject] used a bevel-faced hammer to [verb] the [object].The [craftsperson] selected a bevel-faced hammer for the [task].

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong
use astrike with agrip thebevel-faced hammer head
medium
angledmetalworkingblacksmith'sheavy
weak
newoldsteelprofessional

Examples

Examples of “bevel-faced hammer” in a Sentence

verb

British English

  • The smith will bevel-face the new hammer head.
  • They are bevel-facing the tool for the specific job.

American English

  • The manufacturer bevel-faces these hammers for metalwork.
  • We need to bevel-face the striker to fit the space.

adverb

British English

  • The head was shaped bevel-facedly. (Extremely rare/constructed)

American English

  • The tool was struck bevel-facedly into the corner. (Extremely rare/constructed)

adjective

British English

  • He reached for the bevel-faced tool.
  • It's a bevel-faced design.

American English

  • The bevel-faced design is crucial.
  • He owns a set of bevel-faced hammers.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Almost never used. Only relevant in the context of purchasing or selling specialised tools.

Academic

May appear in historical texts on tools, archaeology, or material culture studies.

Everyday

Extremely unlikely to be used or understood by the general public.

Technical

Primary context. Used in metalworking, blacksmithing, carpentry, and tool manufacturing manuals or discussions.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “bevel-faced hammer”

Strong

cross-peen hammer (note: similar function, different head shape)

Neutral

angled-face hammerbeveled hammer

Weak

specialised hammermetalworking hammer

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “bevel-faced hammer”

flat-faced hammerclaw hammer (general-purpose)

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “bevel-faced hammer”

  • Spelling: 'bevel-faced' is hyphenated as a compound adjective. Incorrect: 'bevel faced hammer'.
  • Misunderstanding: Confusing it with a 'ball-peen hammer' or 'cross-peen hammer', which have differently shaped heads.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

No. While both are used in metalworking, a cross-peen hammer has a wedge-shaped 'peen' opposite its flat face, used for spreading metal. A bevel-faced hammer has a wedge-shaped angle on its primary striking face itself.

It is not ideal. The angled face makes it difficult to strike a nail head squarely, which can bend the nail or damage the work surface. It is a specialised tool.

They are usually made of forged steel for the head, with the striking face often hardened. Handles can be wood (like hickory), fibreglass, or steel.

The bevel allows the user to strike an object (like a chisel or punch) that is held at an angle, or to hit a surface in a recessed area where a flat-faced hammer cannot make full contact.

A type of hammer with a wedge-shaped (beveled) striking face on the head.

Bevel-faced hammer is usually technical/specialised in register.

Bevel-faced hammer: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɛvəl feɪst ˈhæmə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɛvəl feɪst ˈhæmər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

  • None. The term is purely technical and does not feature in idiomatic language.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Imagine a **bevel** (a slanted edge) on the **face** of a **hammer**. It's a hammer with a slanted striking surface.

Conceptual Metaphor

TOOL FOR ANGLED ACTION (The bevel face is a physical adaptation for striking at an angle, metaphorically representing specialised solutions for constrained situations).

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap
For striking a chisel held at a 45-degree angle, a standard hammer is less effective than a .
Multiple Choice

In which primary context would you most likely encounter the term 'bevel-faced hammer'?