mallet
UK: ˈmælɪt | US: ˈmælɪt
n. a hammer with a large, usually wooden head
n. a tool used for striking in sports (e.g., croquet or polo)
n. a percussion instrument with a struck head
The word "mallet" traces back to Latin malleus (hammer), which evolved into Old French mail. The diminutive suffix -et was added to form maillet, meaning "small hammer." English borrowed this term, retaining its core meaning while expanding its use to sports and music. The logic reflects a tool's functional adaptation—smaller hammers for precision tasks.
The carpenter used a wooden mallet to tap the joints into place.
In croquet, players hit the ball with a mallet through the hoops.
The percussionist struck the xylophone with a soft mallet.
She accidentally dropped the mallet on her foot, causing a bruise.
The judge’s mallet silenced the courtroom with a sharp rap.