sykes
n. countable C2 Proficiency US //ˈsaɪks// sykes
n. a heavy hammer used for breaking stone or metal. It is a specialized tool often used in construction or mining.
n. a heavy hammer, typically a sledgehammer, used for breaking stone or driving wedges. Often used in industrial or historical mining contexts.
The worker used a sykes to break the large rock.
The excavation team required a sykes to clear the heavy debris blocking the entrance to the old mine shaft.
In the nineteenth century, the rhythmic strike of the sykes against the quarry face was a constant sound in the industrial landscape of the region.
Usage
A specialized or regional term; in modern general English, 'sledgehammer' is more common.