clawhammer

/ˈklɔˌhæmər/
noun
  1. A hammer with a split head used for pulling nails, common in carpentry.
    • The carpenter used a clawhammer to pry apart the wooden crate.
    • A clawhammer is an essential tool for any home repair kit.
    • He grabbed his clawhammer to remove the old nails from the board.
adjective
  1. Relating to a style of banjo playing that uses a downward striking motion, named after the motion of a clawhammer.
    • He prefers clawhammer style over the three-finger picking method.
    • She learned clawhammer banjo from her grandfather.
    • The clawhammer technique gives the banjo a rhythmic, old-time sound.
What does "clawhammer" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean