mallet / leg / clapper
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mallet
A hammer-like tool or instrument with a usually large, often non-metal head, used for striking, e.g. with percussion instruments such as timpani or in sculpture.
Der Musiker wählte einen weichen Schlegel, um einen sanften Ton auf dem Xylophon zu erzeugen.
The musician chose a soft mallet to produce a gentle sound on the xylophone.
leg
The leg or thigh of a slaughtered animal, especially lamb, veal, or poultry, as a cut of meat.
Zum Festessen gab es einen gebratenen Lamm-Schlegel mit Rosmarinkartoffeln.
For the festive meal, there was a roasted leg of lamb with rosemary potatoes.
clapper
The clapper inside a bell that swings against the rim of the bell and produces the sound.
Nach hundert Jahren musste der Schlegel der alten Kirchenglocke ausgetauscht werden.
After a hundred years, the clapper of the old church bell had to be replaced.
'Der Schlegel' (the mallet/leg/clapper) is related to the verb 'schlagen' (to hit/strike). All meanings describe an object that has a striking or hammering function, whether in music, in a bell, or as a tool.
Er schlug mit dem Schlegel kräftig auf die Pauke.
He struck the timpani forcefully with the mallet.
You can almost always recognize the meaning of 'Schlegel' (mallet/leg/clapper) from the context. Words like 'Pauke' (timpani), 'Xylophon' (xylophone), or 'Musiker' (musician) point to the musical instrument meaning (m01). Terms like 'Lamm' (lamb), 'braten' (to roast), or 'Rezept' (recipe) indicate the cut of meat (m02). In connection with 'Glocke' (bell) or 'Kirche' (church), it means the clapper (m03).
Der Schlagzeuger wechselte die Schlegel für das nächste Stück.
The drummer changed mallets for the next piece.
In the culinary meaning, 'Schlegel' (leg) is almost always combined with the type of animal. The most common combinations are 'Lamm-Schlegel' (leg of lamb), 'Kalbs-Schlegel' (leg of veal), or 'Gänse-Schlegel' (goose leg).
Ein gebratener Kalbs-Schlegel ist eine Spezialität der Region.
A roasted leg of veal is a specialty of the region.
hammer
Both words refer to a hammer-like tool used for striking. „Der Hammer“ is the general term, while „der Schlegel“ usually has a larger, often nonmetallic head and can therefore refer to a special type of tool or an instrument. Use „Hammer“ in general and „Schlegel“ for this specific form.
Der Musiker schlug die Pauke mit einem großen Schlegel.
The musician struck the timpani with a large mallet.
Mit dem Hammer schlug sie den Nagel vorsichtig in die Wand.
She carefully drove the nail into the wall with the hammer.
