chisel

1 of 2

noun

chis·​el ˈchi-zᵊl How to pronounce chisel (audio)
: a metal tool with a sharpened edge at one end used to chip, carve, or cut into a solid material (such as wood, stone, or metal)

chisel

2 of 2

verb

chiseled or chiselled; chiseling or chiselling ˈchi-zə-liŋ How to pronounce chisel (audio)
ˈchiz-liŋ

transitive verb

1
: to cut or work with or as if with a chisel
2
: to employ shrewd or unfair practices on in order to obtain one's end
also : to obtain by such practices
chisel a job

intransitive verb

1
: to work with or as if with a chisel
2
a
: to employ shrewd or unfair practices
b
: to thrust oneself : intrude
chisel in on a racket
chiseler noun
or chiseller
ˈchi-zə-lər How to pronounce chisel (audio)
ˈchiz-lər

Examples of chisel in a Sentence

Verb He chiseled off a corner of the block. Letters were chiseled into a wall.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
For example, chisels for carving come in different orientations that aren’t just flat. Joanne Kempinger Demski, Journal Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2024 These stone-working artisans not only had the skill to reproduce the sculptor’s images with hammer and chisel, they were trained in the use of a crucial device, called a pointing machine, to accomplish the intricate task of rendering a sculptor’s design at a larger, sometimes monumental, scale. John Freeman Gill, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2023 Officials are now warning Maine residents to be prepared with proper tools, like picks-of-life and ice chisels, before going on ice. Gina Martinez, CBS News, 29 Jan. 2024 His tools include hammers, chisels, saws, rasps, files and curved steel calipers in several sizes. Elaine Sciolino, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Dec. 2023 My own instinct would be to flee to the ship, not to whip out a chisel and laboriously carve a message into a giant stone tablet. Daniel T. Ksepka, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2023 With a sharp chisel, clean out all the veneer and old glue within that area. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2023 The mountains of premium rock were shipped first to Rajasthan, where thousands of craftsmen used chisel and hammer and ageless technique to extract the loose-limbed god within each block. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 9 Nov. 2023 From another perspective, the fabric almost looks like the undulating surface of an unfinished sculpture by Bernini, waiting for the artist’s chisel. Zachary Small, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2023
Verb
He’s chiseled his way into their foundation already, currently boasting the team’s third-highest scoring average at 15.3 points per game. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 2 Feb. 2024 The sequel aims to chisel out any flaws to finally let this concept shine. Gene Park, Washington Post, 9 Jan. 2024 And, after a few years toying around with a spread offense, Harbaugh went back to his roots, chiseling a dominant running attack behind a grisly offensive line. J. Brady McCollough, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2024 That’s all yours; then to share, there’s a swim-up cocktail bar in the cliff-edge pool, a wine bar, and a subterranean spa, chiseled into the cliffs, which combines ancient Greek tradition with island herbs. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 5 Jan. 2024 Suddenly, the performance, which had been chiselled and molded and tended to for many years, took on an element of improvisation. Carrie Battan, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2024 Each of its frames are hand-finished in its English factory, while certain parts are chiseled from solid blocks of billet aluminum. Charlie Thomas, Robb Report, 12 Jan. 2024 In 2017, a pair of men posing as city workers propped a ladder against a wall in the Sixth Arrondissement and, in broad daylight, chiselled away an alien mosaic. Lauren Collins, The New Yorker, 11 Dec. 2023 After amassing a fortune, Youngblood donated to build a new plaza at his alma mater and had his grandfather’s name chiseled into the steps. Benoît Morenne, WSJ, 21 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chisel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French *chisel, cisel, from Vulgar Latin *cisellum, alteration of caesellum, from Latin caesus, past participle of caedere to cut

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1509, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chisel was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near chisel

Cite this Entry

“Chisel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chisel. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

chisel

1 of 2 noun
chis·​el ˈchiz-əl How to pronounce chisel (audio)
: a metal tool with a cutting edge at the end of a blade used to shape or chip away a solid material (as stone, wood, or metal)

chisel

2 of 2 verb
chiseled or chiselled; chiseling or chiselling
ˈchiz-(ə-)liŋ
1
: to cut or work with or as if with a chisel
2
: to use unfair or dishonest methods
chiseler
ˈchiz-(ə-)lər
noun

Medical Definition

chisel

noun
chis·​el ˈchiz-əl How to pronounce chisel (audio)
: a metal tool with a cutting edge at the end of a blade
especially : one used in dentistry (as for cutting or shaping enamel)

More from Merriam-Webster on chisel

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!