subs. (Irish).—A dress coat. [From a supposed similarity in the cut of the tails to a CLAW HAMMER, one end of which is divided into two claws, for extracting nails from wood.] Also called STEEL-PEN COAT and SWALLOW-TAIL. For synonyms of evening dress generally, see WAR-PAINT.
1863. HAWTHORNE, Passages from English Note-books, I., 538. Sea-captains call a dress-coat a CLAW-HAMMER.
1883. Punch, July 21, p. 29, col. 2, ‘Impressions of an Impressionist’
| That an ‘Impressionist’ is not impressive | |
| In a ‘CLAW-HAMMER’ on a public platform. |
1889. Pall Mall Gazette, Nov. 11, p. 7, col. 1. After the CLAW-HAMMER crowd had been exhausted, he sent up an invitation to the great army of unvarnished.
