anvil / incus
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anvil
A heavy block of steel on which a blacksmith shapes metals by hammering. It serves as a resistant work surface.
Der Schmied legte das glühende Eisen auf den Amboss.
The blacksmith placed the glowing iron on the anvil.
There is an important idiom: 'zwischen Hammer und Amboss sein' (to be between hammer and anvil). It means that you are in a difficult situation in which you are under pressure from two sides.
In dem Familienkonflikt fühlte er sich wie zwischen Hammer und Amboss.
In the family conflict, he felt as if he were between hammer and anvil.
The meaning can easily be inferred from the topic of the conversation or text. If it is about crafts, metal, and blacksmiths, the tool is meant. If it is about medicine, anatomy, or hearing, the bone in the ear is meant.
Der Schmied schlug mit dem Hammer auf das heiße Eisen auf dem Amboss.
The blacksmith struck the hot iron on the anvil with the hammer.
In its original meaning as a tool, 'Amboss' (anvil) is almost always connected with the typical activities of a blacksmith. Common verbs are 'schmieden' (to forge), 'hämmern' (to hammer), or 'bearbeiten' (to work on).
Er schmiedete das Hufeisen auf dem Amboss.
He forged the horseshoe on the anvil.
hammer
'der Hammer' and 'der Amboss' both belong to the area of workshops and blacksmithing. They can be confused because they are often used together. However, the hammer is the tool you strike with. The anvil is the heavy steel block on which metal lies and is shaped. Put simply: you strike with the hammer; you work on the anvil.
Der Schmied legte das heiße Eisen auf den Amboss.
The blacksmith placed the hot iron on the anvil.
Im Keller hat Paul den Hammer gesucht, um einen Nagel in die Wand zu schlagen.
In the basement, Paul looked for the hammer to drive a nail into the wall.