tool

Etymology

From Middle English tool, tol, from Old English tōl (“tool, implement, instrument”, literally “that with which one prepares something”), perhaps borrowed from Old Norse tól, but at any rate ultimately from Proto-Germanic *tōlą (“that which is used in preparation, tool”), from Proto-Indo-European *dewh₂- (“to tie to, secure”), equivalent to taw (“to prepare”) + -le (agent suffix). Cognate with Scots tuil (“tool, implement, instrument, device”), Icelandic tól (“tool”), Faroese tól (“tool, instrument”). Related to Old English tāwian (“to make, prepare, or cultivate”); see taw, and tow ("fibres used for spinning").

noun

1. A mechanical device intended to make a task easier.
   Hand me that tool, would you?
   I don't have the right tools to start fiddling around with the engine.
2. Any piece of equipment used in a profession, e.g. a craftman's tools.
   Drawings and pictures are more than mere ornaments in scientific discourse. Blackboard sketches, geological maps, diagrams of molecular structure, astronomical photographs, MRI images, the many varieties of statistical charts and graphs: These pictorial devices are indispensable tools for presenting evidence, for explaining a theory, for telling a story. 2012-03, Brian Hayes, “Pixels or Perish”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, archived from the original on 2013-02-19, page 106
   These are the tools of the trade.
3. Something to perform an operation; an instrument; a means.
   Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus.[…]A photo processing technique called focus stacking has changed that. Developed as a tool to electronically combine the sharpest bits of multiple digital images, focus stacking is a boon to biologists seeking full focus on a micron scale. 2013 July-August, Catherine Clabby, “Focus on Everything”, in American Scientist, archived from the original on 2017-05-11
4. (computing) A piece of software used to develop software or hardware, or to perform low-level operations.
   The software engineer had been developing lots of EDA tools.
   a tool for recovering deleted files from a disk
5. A person or group which is used or controlled, usually unwittingly, by another person or group.
   He was a tool, no more than a pawn to her.
6. (by extension, vulgar, slang, derogatory) An obnoxious or uptight person.
   He won't sell us tickets because it's 3:01, and they went off sale at 3. That guy's such a tool.
7. (baseball">baseball) A particular skill pertaining to baseball">baseball (such as hitting, running, etc.).
   a five-tool player
   When asked what he liked about Youk Kevin Youkilis], former Boston scout Matt Haas says, "At first glance, not a lot." (Mind you, this is one of the few scouts who actually wanted the kid.) "He was unorthodox," says Haas, who now scouts for the Arizona Diamondbacks. "He had an extreme crouch—his thighs were almost parallel to the ground. And he was heavier than he is now. But the more I watched him, the more I just thought, Throw the tools out the window. This guy can play baseball." 7 November 2007, Mark Bechtel, “"there's Something Fun About Yooouuuk"”, in Sports Illustrated, archived from the original on 2008-10-14
8. (vulgar, slang) A penis, notably with a sexual or erotic connotation.
   She wanna hang with the goons She wanna party midnight till noon She wanna play with my tool 01-02-2019, Burna Bandz (lyrics and music), “Goons” (track 13), in Compact Burna
9. (slang, Canada, US, MTE, MLE, and possibly wider) A gun.
   In my city keep a tool Lil nigga you know the rules 01-02-2019, Burna Bandz (lyrics and music), “Goons” (track 13), in Compact Burna

verb

1. (transitive) To work on or shape with tools, e.g., hand-tooled leather.
2. (transitive) To equip with tools.
3. (intransitive) To work very hard.
   Do this lab and read this book, now tool, one and all, And be sure and pass that final quiz or be screwed right to the wall. 1965, Matt Fichtenbaum, Dan Murphy, “The Institute Screw”, in The Broadside of Boston, volume III, number 22
4. (transitive, slang) To put down another person (possibly in a subtle, hidden way), and in that way to use him or her to meet a goal.
   Dude, he's not your friend. He's just tooling you.
5. (transitive, volleyball) To intentionally attack the ball so that it deflects off a blocker out of bounds.
6. (transitive, UK, slang, dated) To drive (a coach or other vehicle).
7. (transitive, UK, slang, dated) To carry or convey in a coach or other vehicle.
   1850s, Cuthbert M. Bede, The Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green Among those who seemed disposed to join in this opinion was the Jehu of the Warwickshire coach, who expressed his conviction to our hero, that "he wos a young gent as had much himproved hisself since he tooled him up to the Warsity with his guvnor."
8. (intransitive, slang) To travel in a vehicle; to ride or drive.
   March 8, 1890, Byron P. Stephenson, "My Trip to Brazil", in Illustrated American boys on their bicycles tooling along the well-kept roads
   These are the guys that tool around in Mercedes Sprinter vans with equipment lockers stuffed with everything from riot helmets to tasers. 2011, Ben Aaronovitch, Rivers of London, Gollancz, published 2011, page 324