Hatchet

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For other uses, see Hatchet (disambiguation).
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 hammerhead 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 hewing hatchet.[1]

Although hand axe and hatchet are often used interchangeably, they are not the same thing. A hand axe is essentially a miniature axe with a flat butt or poll on the back side of the head, whereas a hatchet has a hammerhead on the back.[2]

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 fire through sparks and friction. Hatchet throwing is increasing in popularity.[citation needed]

"Burying the hatchet" is 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.

Hatchet was used to describe a battle-axe in Middle English.[3]

References[]

  1. ^ Follansbee, Peter. "How a Woodworker Uses a Hatchet". Popular Woodworking. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  2. ^ "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."
  3. ^ "Results of Headword Search in Middle English Dictionary". quod.lib.umich.edu. Retrieved 2017-08-18.
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