anvil
UK[ˈænvɪl]US[ˈænvɪl]
n
A heavy iron block on which a blacksmith shapes hot metal by hammering it.
n
(Anatomy) The middle bone of the three small bones in the ear of a mammal; the incus.
Etymology
The word 'anvil' has a direct and ancient lineage, descending from the Old English word 'anfilt' or 'onfilti'. This Old English term is believed to be a compound, possibly from the Proto-Germanic 'ana' (meaning 'on') and a root related to 'felt' (meaning 'to hit' or 'to beat'), thus literally describing the object 'on which one beats' metal. Its cognates in other Germanic languages, such as Middle Dutch 'anvilte' and Old High German 'anafalz', reinforce this instrumental meaning. The anatomical sense, referring to the small ear bone which resembles the tool in shape, is a later metaphorical extension from the 17th century, demonstrating how a concrete object's name can be borrowed to describe a biological form.
Analysis
The word 'anvil' is a simplex word of Germanic origin. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into smaller, independent morphemes within its modern English spelling.
Examples
The blacksmith placed the red-hot horseshoe on the anvil.
The constant clang of hammer on anvil echoed from the forge.
Vibrations from the eardrum are transmitted via the malleus, incus (anvil), and stapes to the inner ear.