Definition

A tool used for digging, which has a flat blade that is attached to a long handle and is set at a right angle to it.

Example

The gardener used a mattock to break up the hard soil in the garden.

Conversation

I need to dig a small ditch in my backyard this weekend.

Have you thought about using a mattock? It works great for that.

I haven't, but that sounds like a good idea!

Yeah, it's really helpful for breaking up the soil.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

**Mattock** → The word 'mattock' originates from Old English 'matoc', which refers to a digging tool. The term is related to similar words in other Germanic languages, such as Old High German 'matto' and Middle Dutch 'matteke', both meaning a tool for digging or breaking up soil. Thus, a mattock is a tool specifically designed for digging and breaking ground.

Memory Tip

Imagine a sturdy tool used for digging and breaking up soil — that's what a mattock is, derived from the Old English word for such a digging tool.

Visually Confused Words