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Definition of oliver

oliver

/ˈɑːl.ɪ.vɚ/
ol · i · ver
Plural:olivers
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oliver Lexical Profile

oliver Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small, foot-operated tilt hammer regulated by an overhead spring pole, historically used by blacksmiths for forging nails, bolts, and chain links.

Example

"The blacksmith pressed the treadle to bring the heavy oliver down onto the glowing iron bolt."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for oliver

• Nearby Words

olive python
olive ridley sea turtle
olive sea snake
oliver
ollie
olm
oloupena falls

Word Origin & Etymology

As a common noun for a blacksmith's hammer, it represents a generic use of the masculine given name Oliver, which was borrowed from Old French Olivier and popularized in medieval Europe by the heroic paladin in the Song of Roland.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Oliver. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/oliver
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