English Reference

Word

sykes

Phoneticssykes

/ˈsaɪks/

Definition

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.

Examples

“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.”

Examples

simple

“The worker used a sykes to break the large rock.”

contextual

“The excavation team required a sykes to clear the heavy debris blocking the entrance to the old mine shaft.”

complex

“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.

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

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English Reference