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Glite Dictionary
bench hook

bench hook

8.8
A wooden block attached to a bench that holds wood steady while you cut or shape it
  • noun
translation icon : gancho de banco
  • The carpenter placed the board against the bench hook to keep it steady while sawing.

Examples

  • I used a bench hook to stabilize the wood.

  • Using a bench hook ensures greater accuracy and safety when working with chisels.

  • She made her own bench hook as a beginner woodworking project.

  • The carpenter bought two bench hooks for his workshop.

  • The carpenter used a bench hook to keep the board steady while he cut it.

  • To prevent the wood from moving, he placed it against the bench hook before starting to shape it.

  • A bench hook is essential for any woodworker who wants to make precise cuts without the wood slipping.

Synonyms

stopblock
vsbench hook
  • Specialized
7.3

A device fixed to a tool that holds a piece in the same place for repeated cuts

is for holding wood steady during cutting and shaping
bench clamp
vsbench hook
5.3

A tool that holds a piece on a workbench firmly while you cut or drill

holds wood by acting as a fixed stop rather than squeezing it
bench vise
vsbench hook
  • Specialized
6.5

A tool fixed to a workbench with two parts that press to hold things while you work

holds wood as a stop without gripping tightly with jaws
shoulder vise
vsbench hook
  • Specialized
8.4

A clamp with soft jaws that holds wood without leaving marks

holds wood by stopping it, not by using soft padding to protect surfaces

Surface Forms

bench hook singular
bench hooks plural

Morphology

bench + hook

The noun is a straightforward compound of 'bench' (work table) + 'hook' (curved implement), so a learner can infer it is a hooked device associated with a bench. However, the precise technical function — a stop used to hold wood steady while cutting — is specialized and not fully predictable from the constituents alone, making the sense only partially transparent.

Etymology

Bench hook is a small woodwork tool where a hook is fixed to a bench so a board rests against it and does not move while you cut. So the picture of a hook on the bench explains why bench hook means 'a tool that holds wood steady'.