anvil Hear it!

anvil definition

an·vil (an′vəl)

noun

  1. an iron or steel block on which metal objects are hammered into shape
  2. the incus, one of the three bones of the middle ear

Etymology: ME anvelt < OE anfilt < an, on + *filtan, to hit, beat < IE base *pel-, to beat > (im)pel, felt

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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