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awl

awl

3 8.5
A small pointed tool for making holes in leather, wood, or cloth
  • noun
  • /ɔl/
translation icon : punzón
  • The carpenter grabbed an awl to make starter holes for the screws in the wood.
  • bone awl

Examples

  • Trevor was putting the tools away on the pegboard: the hacksaw, the awl, and the pliers.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • From the other side, an awl, fish scaler, nail file, and, incredibly, tiny scissors.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • I put down my awl.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • With an awl and hammer, you might make an impression, but not much.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • In front of her on the shelf next to her cup, there was a long, pointed awl that she'd used to loosen coins if they got stuck in a machine.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • "Green Water sighed irritably and bent her efforts to mending a long boot bottom, driving a bone awl through thick leather.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • PHOTO (COLOR): A drawing of one of the burials shows a clay-lined coffin, 26 pots, and a bronze awl.

    Academic text (2006)
  • PHOTO (COLOR): Using a deer bone awl, Carlota Colosia, far left, weaves a basket.

    Academic text (1997)
  • To hang the picture frame, I used an awl to pierce a small hole in the wall.

  • She carefully drilled a hole in the leather belt using an awl for precision.

Synonyms

bradawl
vsawl
9.9

A small hand tool with a sharp point for making holes in wood for small nails or screws

is used to pierce holes in many materials not only wood
piercer
vsawl
5.6

A sharp tool for making holes in materials like leather or paper

is a small pointed tool especially for leather wood or fabric
scratch awl
vsawl
  • Specialized
7.9

A small tool with a sharp point that marks wood or metal before cutting

pierces holes for fastening or threading through materials

Compounds

scratch awl
  • Specialized
7.9

A small tool with a sharp point that marks wood or metal before cutting

How Pointed

needle
438 1.0
gimlet
9.3
awl
3 8.5
dowel
  • Specialized
5 6.5

Surface Forms

awl singular
awls plural

Etymology

The word awl goes back to an old German word for a small pointed tool and is like the words still used in German and Dutch for the same tool. Think of an awl as a little 'needle' for leather and wood that you use to make holes, which is why it means a sharp tool for piercing.