Definition
A small hand tool with a sharp, pointed metal shaft set into a handle, used to pierce small holes in materials such as leather, fabric, or wood, or to scribe marks on metal for layout work.
Plain English
A pointed poking tool. You push the tip into something soft to make a small starter hole, or drag it across metal to scratch a guide line.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance, especially when working with fabric, leather, wood, gaskets, or light sheet metal.
Derivation
From Old English 'æl,' meaning a pointed tool. The word has carried the same basic meaning for over a thousand years — a small, sharp implement for piercing.
Why Pilots Care
A pilot may see this term in maintenance descriptions or tool lists. Knowing what it means helps prevent confusing it with a drill or other cutting tool.
Intuition Check
An awl is not a powered drill. It is a hand tool that starts or pierces a small hole by pressure from the user.
Example Sentence 1
The mechanic used an awl to scribe a cut line on the aluminum sheet before trimming.
Example Sentence 2
Before installing the new seat upholstery, the technician marked the rivet locations with an awl.