noun
mallet
MA-liht
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 notesIn 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.