axman

noun

ax·man | \ ˈaks-mən

plural axmen

Definition of axman

1 : one who wields an ax

2 slang : a guitarist especially in a jazz or rock band There was nothing pedestrian about the first show of the Pearl Jam tour. Some highlights of the high-octane performance: Lead axman Mike McCready smashed his guitar to pieces …— Michael Goldberg

3 informal : someone who is responsible for making cuts in staff, funding, etc. a corporate axman

Examples of axman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In the meantime, axman Frank Hannon has a heap of solo material in his vault to keep him busy. — Aaron Davis, sacbee, "Three to see: rockabilly royalty, Tesla axman, ‘Bourbon & Blues’ on tap in Sacramento area | The Sacramento Bee," 9 Mar. 2018 Guitar guru and longtime Ozzy Osbourne axman Zakk Wylde performed with his Black Label Society. — Liz Ramanand, Billboard, "ShipRocked 2018 Cruise Crashes the Waves with Seether, Stone Sour, P.O.D., Black Label Society & More," 26 Jan. 2018 Behind those bankside reeds lay hardwood forests, which axmen cleared next. — Richard Campanella, NOLA.com, "How New Orleans was founded in 1718: Indecision, contingency, discord and serendipity," 10 Jan. 2018 That method of entry was replicated in several killings attributed to the mysterious axman, including the attack on the Maggios. — James Karst, NOLA.com, "Did the Axman strike a century ago?," 20 Aug. 2017 The battle between these two shaping forces—between the axman assaulting the old growth and the still firm soil and deep roots that support the tree of liberty—will now shape the future of us all. ♦ — Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, "Trump’s Radical Anti-Americanism," 2 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'axman.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.