[app. f. BRAD sb. + AWL, denoting an awl for making holes to insert brads; though the ON. bragð-alr lit. ‘twirling awl,’ a fire-drill, suggests a different derivation.]
A kind of small boring tool, a sprig-bit.
1823. P. Nicholson, Pract. Build., 238. Brad-awl … is the smallest tool used for boring.
1881. Young, Every Man his own Mechanic, § 262. The bradawl varies in size or diameter of the steel shaft from 1/16in. to 1/8in. or 3/16in.
