Also called a ball-pein hammer or machinist's hammer, a ball-peen hammer is a metalworking hammer with two heads: one flat face for ordinary striking, and one rounded peen used for peening, the process of working, shaping or hardening metal by hammering it, and for rounding over the end of a rivet or pin to set it in place. It is one of the standard hammers of the machinist's and metalworker's bench, distinct from the flat-faced carpenter's hammer built for driving nails.
Facts
Introduced When (Circa)Sourced to the subject's own accountThe term first saw print in 1874, when a mechanic's dictionary described it as a metal worker's hammer with a spherical peen. 1 OriginThe word peen in ball-peen probably comes from a North Germanic source, compared to related dialect words in Norwegian, Danish, German and Old Swedish meaning a peg or the act of pounding iron with a hammer. 2 Connections
Used In
Ball-peen Hammer is used in Blacksmithing.
Sources
1. Why Is It Called a Ball Peen Hammer? (Mental Floss)
Mental FlossArticle body, 1874 dictionary referenceQuote, Article body, 1874 dictionary reference
The term ball peen hammer first saw print in 1874, when a mechanic's dictionary referred to it as a "metal worker's hammer with a spherical peen."
2. Ball-peen Hammer (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia FoundationEtymology sectionQuote, Etymology section
In the word "ball-peen", peen, probably comes from a North Germanic source; compare dialectal Norwegian penn ("peen"), Danish pind ("peg"), German Pinne ("the peen of a hammer"), Old Swedish pæna ("to pound iron with a hammer").
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