Hatchet

A hand axe (note the lack of a hammer head)

A hatchet (from the Old French hachete, a diminutive form of hache, 'axe' of Germanic origin) is a single-handed striking tool with a sharp blade on one side used to cut and split wood, and a hammer head on the other side. Hatchets may also be used for hewing when making flattened surfaces on logs; when the hatchet head is optimized for this purpose it is called a broadaxe.

A hatchet is a type of hand axe; a small axe meant to be used with one hand.[1]

Hatchets have a variety of uses, such as tasks normally done by a pocket knife when one is not present. The hatchet can also be used to create a fire through sparks and friction. Hatchet throwing is increasing in popularity.

Burying the hatchet has become a phrase meaning to make peace, due to the Native American tradition of hiding or putting away a tomahawk when a peace agreement was made.

Hachet was used to describe a battle-ax in Middle English.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "The Difference Between an Axe And a Hatchet, Explained". Popular Mechanics. 2015-12-03. Retrieved 2017-05-14. He defines a hatchet as simply, "a small one-hand axe used for chopping."
  2. ↑ "Results of Headword Search in Middle English Dictionary". quod.lib.umich.edu. Retrieved 2017-05-14.


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