Meaning & use

awl

noun·Advanced

A small pointed hand tool used for piercing small holes, especially in leather or wood.

See it in a sentence

The cobbler used an awl to punch a new hole in the worn leather belt.

She kept an awl in her sewing kit for working with thick fabric and canvas.

A note on using this word

Awl is often confused with all because the words sound identical; context, such as tools or leatherwork, makes the meaning clear.

Words with a similar meaning

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