hammer and hamper differ by a single letter, buried far enough into the word to be easy to miss. hammer means “the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled”. hamper means “a restraint that confines or restricts freedom (especially something used to tie down or restrain a prisoner)”. hammer is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈhæmɚ/
1.n.the part of a gunlock that strikes the percussion cap when the trigger is pulled
2.n.a hand tool with a heavy rigid head and a handle; used to deliver an impulsive force by striking
3.n.the ossicle attached to the eardrum
/ˈhæmpɚ/
1.n.a restraint that confines or restricts freedom (especially something used to tie down or restrain a prisoner)
2.n.a basket usually with a cover
3.v.prevent the progress or free movement of
“He was hampered in his efforts by the bad weather”
| hammer | hamper | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈhæmɚ/ | /ˈhæmpɚ/ |
| Said | HAM-ur | HAM-pur |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Letters | 6 | 6 |
| Parts of speech | noun, verb | noun, verb |
| Senses | 10 | 4 |
| How common | Common | Familiar |
| Synonyms | cock | shackle, bond, trammel |
Full entry for hammer · Full entry for hamper · More comparisons