mallet

noun

mal·​let ˈma-lət 

: a hammer with a typically barrel-shaped head: such as

a

: a tool with a large head for driving another tool or for striking a surface without marring it

b

: a long-handled wooden implement used for striking a ball (as in polo or croquet)

c

: a light hammer with a small rounded or spherical usually padded head used in playing certain musical instruments (such as a vibraphone)

Examples of mallet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pound using a meat mallet to about 1/2-inch thickness. —Tricia Manzanero Stuedeman, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2024

How to Prepare Turkey Cutlets If the turkey breast cutlets are thick, use a meat mallet to pound cutlets to 1/2-inch thickness. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2024

Croquet mallets proliferate, and though there is now a hedge maze in front of the hotel and framed photos from the film throughout the grounds, there is never any doubt as to whether this is The Overlook. —Mark Peikert, IndieWire, 21 Oct. 2024

He is shown tied up, holding a mallet, and, in one particularly memorable image, clasping his lips around a flower in his mouth. —Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English maillet, from Anglo-French, diminutive of mail hammer — more at maul

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mallet

noun

mal·​let ˈmal-ət 

: a hammer usually with a barrel-shaped head: as

a

: one with a large head used for driving a tool (as a chisel) or for striking a surface without damaging it

b

: a club for striking a ball (as in croquet or polo)