forehammer

English

Etymology

From Middle English forehamer, forhamer, equivalent to fore- +‎ hammer. Compare Dutch voorhamer (“sledgehammer”), German Low German Vörhamer (“sledgehammer”), Danish forhammer (“sledgehammer”).

Noun

forehammer (plural forehammers)

1. A sledge or sledgehammer; the large hammer which strikes first, or before the smaller one.
   • 1939, John Brunton's Book:

     The blacksmith I was put under was a kind good fellow and soon put me in the way of striking with the forehammer which was at first very tiring […]