n. a light short-handled axe.
Phrases and idioms:
hatchet-faced colloq. sharp-featured or grim-looking. hatchet job colloq. a fierce verbal attack on a person, esp. in print. hatchet man colloq.
1. a hired killer.
2 a person employed to carry out a hatchet job.
Etymology: ME f. OF hachette dimin. of hache axe f. med.L hapia f. Gmc