# hatchet

/ˈhætʃət/ (US) · /hˈætʃɪt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/hatchet
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

a small tool with a short handle and a sharp blade used for cutting wood. You can use it with one hand to chop small logs or branches.

For teachers: a small, short-handled axe designed for use with one hand. Often features a hammer-like surface on the side opposite the blade.

## Examples

- He used a hatchet to chop wood for the campfire.
- The campers packed a lightweight hatchet to help clear small branches from their designated sleeping area.
- While a full-sized axe is necessary for felling large trees, a well-balanced hatchet is the superior tool for the precise task of splitting kindling for a domestic hearth.

## Usage notes

- Commonly appears in the idiom 'to bury the hatchet', meaning to make peace with an enemy.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.