sledgehammer
UK[ˈsledʒˌhæmə]US[ˈsledʒˌhæmər]
n
A very large, heavy hammer, typically used with both hands for breaking rocks or driving posts.
v
To strike or force something with great power and little subtlety, as if using a sledgehammer.
Morpheme Breakdown
sledge
hammer
sledge
type of hammer
hammer
tool for striking
Etymology
The word 'sledgehammer' is a classic example of a tautological compound, where both elements essentially mean the same thing, reinforcing the object's primary characteristic. The first element, 'sledge', derives from the Old English slecg, itself related to the verb 'to slay', originally meaning a striking weapon or heavy hammer. The second element, 'hammer', from the Old English hamor, is the generic term for a pounding tool. Over time, 'sledge' fell out of common use as a standalone term for a hammer, surviving chiefly in this compound. Thus, 'sledgehammer' literally translates to "hammer-hammer," a redundant construction that powerfully emphasizes the tool's immense size and force compared to an ordinary hammer.
Analysis
Structure: sledge (type of hammer) + hammer (tool for striking)
sledge: From Middle English slegge, from Old English slecg (a large hammer), related to Old Norse slegja (to strike). It denotes a specific, heavy type of hammer.
hammer: From Old English hamor, hamer (a tool for beating metal), from Proto-Germanic hamaraz. It is the core noun indicating the tool's function.
Examples
The workers used a sledgehammer to demolish the concrete wall.
The new regulations are a sledgehammer approach to a problem that requires more finesse.
He sledgehammered the stake deep into the hard ground.