I. noun
or axe ˈaks
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English æcs; akin to Old High German ackus ax, Latin ascia, Greek axinē
Date: before 12th century
1. : a cutting tool that consists of a heavy edged head fixed to a handle with the edge parallel to the handle and that is used especially for felling trees and chopping and splitting wood
2. : a hammer with a sharp edge for dressing or spalling stone
3. : abrupt removal (as from employment or from a budget) — sometimes used in the phrase get the ax
4. : a musical instrument (as a guitar or a saxophone)
•
- ax to grind
II. transitive verb
or axe
( axed ; ax·ing )
Date: 1677
1.
a. : to shape, dress, or trim with an ax
b. : to chop, split, or sever with an ax
2. : to remove abruptly (as from employment or from a budget)
III. abbreviation
1. axiom
2. axis