Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web

hand ax

 - 4 dictionary results

hand ax

–noun
1. Also, hand axe. a usually large, general-purpose bifacial Paleolithic stone tool, often oval or pear-shaped in form and characteristic of certain Lower Paleolithic industries.
2. broad hatchet.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME, OE

broad hatchet

–noun
a hatchet with a broad cutting edge.
Also called hand ax.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To hand ax
hand ax also hand·ax   (hānd'āks')
n.  
  1. A short-handled ax; a hatchet.

  2. A cutting or chopping tool, especially of the early Paleolithic Period, typically consisting of a stone that has been flaked on one or both sides to produce a sharp edge.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Science Dictionary
hand ax also handax   (hānd'āks')  Pronunciation Key 
A cutting or chopping tool, especially of the Lower Paleolithic Period, typically consisting of a piece of flint or other coarse stone that has been flaked on both sides to produce a sharp edge running all around the perimeter. Hand axes are core tools (produced from a found stone rather than from a processed flake) and have been found in several basic, often pointed shapes, including oval, triangular, and cordate (heart-shaped). The most common Paleolithic tool, they are especially associated with the Acheulian and some Mousterian tool cultures.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see hand ax on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us: