auger

noun

au·​ger ˈȯ-gər 

: any of various tools or devices with a helical shaft or part that are used for boring holes (as in wood, soil, or ice) or moving loose material (such as snow)

Illustration of auger

• 1 2 screw
• 3 tapering pod

Did you know?

The tool called an auger has nothing to do with people’s navels, but the words auger and navel are related. This tool was first used to bore a hole for the axle in the nave, or hub, of a wheel. Such a nave was called nafu in Old English. Nafu is related to the word nafela, which became our word navel. The Old English ancestor of auger was nafogar, which was made up of nafu and gar, meaning “spear.” By Middle English nafogar had lost a syllable and shrunk to nauger. Since a nauger sounds like an auger, people began to write an auger, and our modern spelling of the word was born.

Examples of auger in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Use a snow blower non-stick spray on the inside of the chute and auger to help prevent snow from sticking and clogging the snow blower. —Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Nov. 2024

The show has more than 190 exhibitors — including 30 new ones this year — showing fish houses and equipment such as augers, underwater cameras, shelter lights, float suits, heaters, digital fish finders as well as rods and reels, tackle and plastic bait among other things. —Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024

Ideally, the snake will exit the bottom of the downspout without much resistance, but if there is a clog, rotate the drain snake’s auger head to break up the clog and dislodge any remaining debris. —Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Aug. 2024

That idea is what ended up leading to this idea of the airport, and also the joke with the truck, the augers, and all that stuff. —Patrick Gomez, EW.com, 19 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, alteration (resulting from false division of a nauger) of nauger, from Old English nafogār; akin to Old High German nabugēr auger, Old English nafu nave, gār spear — more at nave, gore

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

auger

noun

au·​ger ˈȯ-gər 

: any of various tools made like a spiral or screw and used for boring holes or moving loose material

Etymology

Middle English auger "auger," an altered form of nauger, from Old English nafogār "tool for boring holes in the hub of a wheel"

Word Origin

The tool called an auger has nothing to do with people's navels, but the words auger and navel are related. This tool was first used to bore a hole for the axle in the nave or hub of a wheel. Such a nave was called nafu in Old English. Nafu is related to the word nafela, which has become our word navel. The Old English ancestor of auger was nafogār, which was made up of nafu and gār, meaning "spear." By Middle English nafogār had lost a syllable and shrunk to nauger, and it no longer made sense as a compound. Since a nauger sounds just like an auger, many people began to write an auger. That is how our modern spelling of the word was born.