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

But things spun out of his control when Tanaghrisson drove a hatchet into the French commander’s skull and his men began killing the wounded. —Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 May 2026

Today, Leonard and his associates seemed to have buried the hatchet. —Brian Welk, IndieWire, 30 Apr. 2026

Hostetter hadn’t always seemed like the type to storm the Capitol armed with hatchets and stun batons. —Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026

Use pruning shears, a small handsaw, or a hatchet to cut below the woody root crown and remove it from the soil. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026

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

Rhymes for hatchet

• ratchet

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