Hatchet

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]

For other uses, see Hatchet (disambiguation).
A hand axe (note the lack of a hammer head)
Hatchet

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.

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.

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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