An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Hammer

by Friedrich Kluge

Hammer, m., ‘hammer, clapper,’ from the equiv. MidHG. hamer (plur. hęmer), OHG. hamar (plur. hamarâ), m.; comp. OSax. hamur, AS. hamor, m., E. hammer, and its equiv. OIc. hamarr, m. (also ‘cliff, rock’); the common Teut. word for ‘hammer,’ by chance not recorded in Goth. only. For the elucidation of its earlier history the subsidiary meanings in Scand. are important; the cognate term kamy in OSlov. signifies ‘stone.’ Hence it has been assumed that Hammer is lit. ‘stone weapon.’ Whether Sans. açman, ‘rock, stone weapon, hammer, anvil,’ &c., and Gr. ἄκμων, ‘anvil’ (Lith. aknmů, ‘stone’), are also allied is uncertain.