hatchet

noun

hatch·​et ˈha-chət 

1

: a short-handled ax often with a hammerhead to be used with one hand

2

: tomahawk

Examples of hatchet in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Children had a fifty-fifty chance of receiving each option: the clown could either burst out from under their bed to juggle hatchets (no notice) or appear at their birthday party to juggle balls (notice given). —Weike Wang, The New Yorker, 11 July 2024

Intense discussions between Iran and Saudi Arabia followed, during which the two sides agreed to bury the hatchet and normalize relations. —Maria Fantappie, Foreign Affairs, 22 Mar. 2023

The task has been assigned to Tim Mulligan, MTA’s deputy chief development officer, who’s been charged with taking a hatchet to the agency’s current capital plan. —Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 22 June 2024

The exchange between Marina and Charli also seems to capture the pair publicly burying the hatchet after a falling out in 2016 over a photoshoot. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hachet, from Anglo-French hachette, diminutive of hache battle-ax — more at hash

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing hatchet

• bury the hatchet
• hatchet face
• hatchet job
• hatchet man
• hatchet work

Kids Definition

hatchet

noun

hatch·​et ˈhach-ət 

: a small ax with a short handle

Etymology

Middle English hachet "small ax, hatchet," from early French hachette, literally, "small battle-ax," from hache "battle-ax"; of Germanic origin — related to hash entry 1, hatch entry 4

Medical Definition

hatchet

noun

hatch·​et ˈhach-ət 

: a dental excavator