awl

English

/ɔːl/, /ɔl/, /ɑl/

noun
Definitions
  • A pointed instrument for piercing small holes, as in leather or wood; used by shoemakers, saddlers, cabinetmakers, etc. The blade is differently shaped and pointed for different uses, as in the brad awl, saddler's awl, shoemaker's awl, etc.
  • (entomology) Any of various hesperiid butterflies.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English aul inherited from Old English ǣl (eel) inherited from *ālu inherited from Proto-Germanic *ēlō inherited from Proto-Indo-European *h₁ólos (awl).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*h₁ólos

Gloss

awl

Concept
Semantic Field

Clothing and grooming

Ontological Category

Person/Thing

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms