Dictionary definition of “Monday hammer”

Monday hammer

n. jocularly, a (heavy) sledge or hammer (said to be appropriate for use on a Monday). Subjects: English

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Citations: [1938-39 Lexicon of Trade Jargon “The Machine Shop” (in Wisc.) p. 4: “Monday” hammer. Light sledge.] *1938-39 Workers at 3rd Ave. and 65th St., carbarn @ New York City Lexicon of Trade Jargon “[pencil] Motormen and Conductors”: Monday hammer. A 32 pound sledge hammer; means worker must have day of rest before being able to wield heavy hammer. 1965 Colin Clark Economic Journal (U.K.) (Mar.) “Review: Economics and Sociology of Industry. A Realistic Analysis of Development.” vol. 75, no. 297, p. 190: Professor Sargant Florence still seems surprised that absenteeism should be at its highest on Mondays.…From its relatively greater incidence among unskilled men, he asks whether it is due to boredom, and does not discuss the possiblity that it may be due to sheer physical incapacity (on Clydeside a hammer with a very thick head is known as a “Monday hammer”). 2004 [Learner Turner] Ask The Trades (U.K.) (May 19) “Re: Hire or Beg Steal or Borrow…”: If they couldn’t get it undone with that, we used a flogging spanner and a “Monday” hammer. This was so called because it weighed 28lbs, and if you used it on a Monday, you were on the sick for the rest of the week! *2005 Lutheran Hour Ministries (St. Louis, Mo.) (Jan. 27) “Daily Devotions: Monday Hammer”: Workers at construction sites use a very heavy hammer to break rocks and concrete. They call it a “Monday hammer.” Why “Monday hammer?” Because, they say, on Mondays they come to work fresh and strong, having rested over the weekend and therefore are able to wield this heavy hammer.

Posted 30 Jun 05 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

A ‘monday hammer’ was a three handled hammer that was used in the chain and anchor trade in the Black Country. Its head weighed one cwt and 5 men were required to handle it. The Vicar of Dudley came to Noah Hingley’s of Netherton and was pleased when the leader of the gang told him that “me and me mates lift it up but the Lord sends it down”.
Its was called a Monday hammer because the men told him that “nobody likes mondays either”
“Strike while the iron’s hot” use as heavy blow as possible, and this was possible with the Monday hammer.

by Ron Moss 19 Jun 07, 0919 GMT