Hammer

a piece of iron which stands in a perpendicular direction above the cover of the pan, being a part of the same, and serving to produce those sparks of fire that ultimately occasion the explosion of the gunpowder. The Germans call it pfannen deckel, the cover of the pan; but this expre ion does not convey a distinct and clear idea of the use that is made of it. Nothing, however, can be le appropriate than the term appears amongst us. We call the part which is struck against to produce sparks of fire the hammer; and the part which strikes, the cock; whereas that part of the cock which holds the flint is, in fact, the hammer, and the other is without a proper name. The Germans call the cock hahn. It is not within our province to propose new terms; we are therefore satisfied in having pointed out the contradiction.