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Definition of awl
awl
/ɔːl/
awl
Plural:awls
awl Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
7
Tier
2
Usage
Rare
awl Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• noun
1
A small pointed tool used for piercing small holes, especially in leather, wood, or heavy fabric.
Example
"The cobbler used a sharp awl to carefully punch holes in the thick leather strap before stitching it."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for awlWord Nuance & Usage
Often confused in spelling with its homophone 'all', though their meanings and parts of speech are completely unrelated.
• Rhymes for awl
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'æl', derived from Proto-Germanic '*ælo', denoting a piercing tool. It shares roots with Old High German 'āla' and Old Norse 'alr'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Awl. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 11, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/awl