a hand tool with a bit shaped like a corkscrew, for boring holes in wood
2.
a larger tool of the same kind for boring holes in the ground
Word origin
C15 an augur, resulting from mistaken division of earlier a nauger, from Old English nafugār nave (of a wheel) spear (that is, tool for boring hubs of wheels), from nafunave2 + gār spear; see gore2
auger in American English
(ˈɔgər)
noun
1.
a narrow tool for boring holes in wood, etc., with a sharp end for cutting and spiral grooves for channeling the shavings out of the hole: it is larger than a gimlet
2.
a similar but larger tool, as for boring holes in the earth
Word origin
by faulty separation of ME a nauger < OE nafogar, nave drill < nafu, nave2 + gar, a spear: see gore3