axe en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /æks/
- ăks
- (US) audio
Etymology
From Middle English ax, axe, ex, from Old English æx (“axe”), from Proto-West Germanic *akusi (“axe”), from Proto-Germanic *akwisī (“axe”), probably from a Proto-Indo-European *h₂egʷsih₂ (“axe”), from *h₂eḱ- (“sharp, pointed”). Cognate with Scots aix (“axe”), Dutch aks (“axe”), German Axt (“axe”), Danish økse (“axe”), Faroese, Norwegian Bokmål, and Norwegian Nynorsk øks (“axe”), Icelandic öxi (“axe”), Swedish yxa (“axe”), Latin ascia (“axe, mason's trowel”).
Meanings
- A tool for felling trees or chopping wood etc. consisting of a heavy head flattened to a blade on one side, and a handle attached to it.
- An ancient weapon consisting of a head that has one or two blades and a long handle.
-
(informal, with the) A dismissal or rejection.
His girlfriend/boss/schoolmaster gave him the axe.
-
(figuratively) A drastic reduction or cutback.
I had a job in the great North Woods Workin' as a cook for a spell But I never did like it all that much And one day the axe just fell
1975, Bob Dylan, “Tangled Up in Blue”, in Blood on the Tracks:Back in 1963, how could Beeching advocate closure of the electrified Liverpool-Southport commuter route, just because its books didn't balance? The busy North London line between Richmond and Broad Street was also for the axe, as was Leeds to Bradford and Ilkley.
2023 March 8, Howard Johnston, “Was Marples the real railway wrecker?”, in RAIL, number 978, page 50:But P'u-yi was nothing if not soft when it came to family, and he arranged for the young man to live with his uncle Beitzu P'u-hsiu in P'u-yi's old house in T'ien-ching. So Yü-t'ai was well clear of Ch'ang-ch'un when the axe fell in 1945.
1994, Tony Scotland, The Empty Throne: The Quest for an Imperial Heir in the People's Republic of China, Penguin Books, →ISBN, →OCLC, →OL, page 103:the Beeching Axe
The tractor plant is slated for the axe.
- (slang) A gigging musician's particular instrument, especially a guitar in rock music or a saxophone in jazz.
-
A position, interest, or reason in buying and selling stock, often with ulterior motives.
A financial dealer has an axe in a stock that his buyers don't know about, giving him an advantage in making the most profit.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ax | US, alternative | lexicographic | |
| axes | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
give the axe · axeblade · break-axe · take an axe to · axe-murderer · battle-axe · poleaxe · boarding axe · moot-axe · greataxe · axe throwing · tomax · Axe Creek · Bad Axe · broadaxe · axe head · have an axe to grind · pick-axe · hand axe · mad as a meat axe · axelike · meat axe · axe murderer · axe wound · axe-murder · axe to grind · dagger-axe · pole-axe · man with the axe · axe bombing · axe kick · curt-axe · axeless · axeman · axe murder · throwing axe · ice-axe · ice axe · Hagen axe · axewoman · axemanship · curtal-axe · curtle-axe
Descendants
Hyponyms
Jeddart axe · Beeching Axe · hatchet · Danish axe · tomahawk · battle axe · Lochaber axe · crash axe · wagoner's axe · battleaxe · throwing-axe · fire axe · Dane axe
Relateds
Synonyms
pink slip · sack · chop · boot
Translations (429)
bg о́тказ (rejection) · krc балта (tool) · bo སྟ་རེ (tool) · uk топі́р (weapon) · lv cirvis (tool) · enm ax (tool) · ha gā̀tarī (tool) · id kapak (weapon) · ru топо́р (weapon) · mjg-mgr suguo (tool) · arn toki (tool) · ka ნაჯახი (weapon) · ga tua (tool) · lad balta (tool) · ltg ciervs (tool) · scn cugnata (tool) · fy bile (tool) · kn ಕುಠಾರ (tool) · cv пуртӑ (tool) · lo ຂວານ (tool) · mr कुऱ्हाड (tool) · ngc epondo (tool) · sv yxa (weapon) · uk соки́ра (tool) · tk palta (tool) · qu k'acha (tool) · ota تبر (tool) · crh balta (tool) · be сяке́ра (tool) · ccc ame (tool) · scn sciunetta (tool) · io hakilo (weapon) · ast machada (tool) · sw shoka (rejection) · pi kuṭhārī (tool) · gl brosa (tool) · ckb تەور (tool) · nl hakbijl (tool) · mi toki (tool) · la ascia (tool) · fi rukkaset (rejection) · ce диг (tool) · wal kalttaa (tool) · ml മഴു (tool) · krl kirves (tool) · gu કુહાડી (tool) · pnt παλτά (tool) · ru секи́ра (tool) · xsv romestuve (weapon) · xul umbagong (weapon) · eo toporo (tool) · se ákšu (tool) · akk 𒍏𒄩𒍣𒅔 (tool) · sga biáil (weapon) · lez якӏв (tool) · ro topor (weapon) · hi कुल्हाड़ी (tool) · gv teigh (tool) · cy bwyell (weapon) · rue фи́йса (tool) · el τσεκούρι (tool) · de Streitaxt (weapon) · kum балта (tool) · evn сукэ (tool) · xnb kakaamarʉ (tool) · hsb sekera (tool) · id kapak (tool) · xsv kersle (weapon) · sh сѐкира (weapon) · si පොරොව (tool) · sc destrale (tool) · sms ähšš (tool) · ja アックス (tool) · sv yxa (tool) · fr hache (weapon) · pt machado (weapon) · kw bool (tool) · nrf hache (tool) · cu секꙑра (tool) · lad באלטה (tool) · wal paasiya (tool) · es machado (tool) · grc πέλεκυς (weapon) · mt mannara (weapon) · got 𐌰𐌵𐌹𐌶𐌹 (tool) · uk топі́р (tool) · fa تَبَر (tool) · fi kirves (weapon) · fr cognée (tool) · ast macháu (tool) · fr couperet (rejection) · ota فاس (tool) · non øx (tool) · orv топоръ (tool) · sq sëpatë (tool) · oc pigassa (tool) · pdt Akjs (tool) · aht dagoli (tool) · eu aizkora (tool) · is exi (tool) · ca destral (weapon) · km ពូថៅ (tool) · zh 斧子 (weapon) · it mannaia (tool) · nv tsénił (tool) · sjd оа̄ккш (tool) · fi ostointressi (finance: interest in buying or selling) · nb stridsøks (weapon) · vec daldoro (tool) · stq Äkse (tool) · om qottoo (tool) · rue балта (tool) · tl palakol (tool) · it scarto (rejection) · is stríðsöxi (weapon) · sh sjèkira (weapon) · hy կացին (weapon) · pdt Biel (nds) (tool) · hak 斧頭 /斧头 (tool) · et sõjakirves (weapon) · kbd джыдэ (tool) · ro secure (tool) · el πέλεκυς (weapon) · chy hohkȯxe (tool) · sv stridsyxa (weapon) · ms kapak (tool) · unm tëmahikàn (tool) · wuu 斧頭 /斧头 (tool) · kix ōu (tool) · tpi akis (tool) · fr hache (tool) · mww taus (tool) · zh 斧頭 /斧头 (tool) · xal балт (tool) · ab аиха (tool) · ug رەت قىلىش (rejection) · tbt mbaha (tool) · hil wasay (tool) · nl strijdbijl (weapon) · txb peret (tool) · fa تَبَر (tool) · ba балта (tool) · es facha (tool) · ady ощы (tool) · ast azada (tool) · ady отыч (tool) · kw bolik (tool) · da økse (tool) · nn øks (tool) · srn beiri (tool) · it ascia (tool) · zza tewerzin (weapon) · ky балта (tool) · ko 도끼 (tool) · peh ge (tool) · orv секꙑра (tool) · de Beil (tool) · fi potkut (rejection) · th ขวาน (tool) · ady майтэ (tool) · vec asa (tool) · grt ru-a (tool) · kpv чер (tool) · alt малта (tool) · mk секира (tool) · la ascia (weapon) · ti ፋስ (tool) · ttt тэвэр (tool) · uli kadam (tool) · sc seguri (tool) · et kirves (tool) · ug پالتا (tool) · io hakilo (tool) · shn ၵႂၢၼ် (tool) · ro secure (weapon) · gd tuagh (weapon) · ar فَأْس (tool) · rm sgür (tool) · cs sekera (weapon) · kk балта (tool) · am ፋስ (tool) · mjg-mgl sgo (tool) · sh sèkira (weapon) · pt machado (tool) · es hacha (weapon) · xdq бере́тта (tool) · ur تَبَر (weapon) · hy կացին (tool) · tpw îy (tool) · ota بالطه (tool) · ta கோடரி (tool) · xal сүк (tool) · es hacha (tool) · gur lɩ-kãtɛ (tool) · ang æx (tool) · ca atxa (weapon) · kmr bivir (tool) · xul umbagong (tool) · ast azáu (tool) · lbe рикӏ (tool) · it scure (tool) · mrj тавар (tool) · os фӕрӕт (tool) · ady обзэгъу (tool) · mt mannara (tool) · ps تبرګۍ (tool) · de Korb (rejection) · ii ꃤꃀ (tool) · la secūris (weapon) · mdf узерь (tool) · nl bijl (tool) · bg бра́два (tool) · or କୁରାଢୀ (tool) · tt балта (tool) · yrk-tun тубка (tool) · az balta (tool) · ka ცული (weapon) · be адмо́ва (rejection) · ja アックス (weapon) · sc segura (tool) · rm sagir (tool) · ny nkhwangwa (tool) · sw shoka (weapon) · oc destral (tool) · wym ba̐jł (tool) · sh sjèkira (tool) · et kirves (weapon) · ln soka (tool) · fur manarie (tool) · xh izembe (tool) · ka ცული (tool) · ca destral (tool) · nl bijl (weapon) · ro topor (tool) · ka ნაჯახი (tool) · oc manaira (tool) · bh कुल्हाड़ी (tool) · myv узере (tool) · dv ކޯރާޑި (tool) · de Laufpass (rejection) · ktu soka (tool) · kmr balte (tool) · mnc ᠰᡠᡥᡝ (tool) · de Ax (tool) · dlm sčor (tool) · zh 斧頭 /斧头 (tool) · cs sekera (tool) · twf kwóna (tool) · za fouj (tool) · ug پالتا (weapon) · uk колу́н (tool) · zu imbazo (tool) · bn কুঠার (tool) · zh футу (tool) · sh сјѐкира (weapon) · mns-nor са̄грап (tool) · be тапо́р (tool) · vec sigureto (tool) · sh sèkira (tool) · dlg һүгэ (tool) · uk відмо́ва (rejection) · sah сүгэ (tool) · bg топо́р (weapon) · fr gratte (instrument) · xsv bīla (tool) · gl machada (tool) · nb øks (weapon) · fi myynti-intressi (finance: interest in buying or selling) · yue 斧頭 /斧头 (tool) · rm sieir (tool) · blt ꪄꪫꪱꪙ (tool) · pox bordåińă (tool) · es segur (tool) · sid meesane (tool) · ln epondo (tool) · vec manera (tool) · srn beiri (weapon) · tfr ä (tool) · zh 斧子 (tool) · sce sugie (tool) · sq latë (tool) · la secūris (tool) · ru колу́н (tool) · bn কুড়াল (tool) · ovd ökse (tool) · ru секи́ра (weapon) · ur کُلْہاڑی (tool) · bcl parakol (tool) · njo-jgl pu (tool) · pam palakul (tool) · mnp 斧頭 /斧头 (tool) · sq sëpatë (weapon) · tab екӏв (tool) · dar барда (tool) · yi האַק (tool) · ga tua (weapon) · dta topoor (tool) · chk kouk (tool) · ota تبر (weapon) · ml കോടാലി (tool) · scn ascia (tool) · pl siekiera (tool) · te గొడ్డలి (tool) · sl sekira (tool) · gl machado (weapon) · hu csatabárd (weapon) · pox seťaŕă (tool) · nay drekurmi (weapon) · rm manera (tool) · tr balta (tool) · ja 斧 (tool) · lt kirvis (tool) · wau e'pi (tool) · zh 斧 (tool) · mrw wasay (tool) · uk берди́ш (weapon) · sc segure (tool) · it ascia (weapon) · gl machado (tool) · sh сѐкира (tool) · hu balta (tool) · ba балта (weapon) · nrf hache (weapon) · pnt αξινάρ (tool) · chn lahash (tool) · fi tappara (weapon) · de Axt (tool) · rm sigir (tool) · ota مكشاح (tool) · is öxi (tool) · ru топо́р (tool) · sc bestrale (tool) · vec manara (tool) · fi kirves (tool) · ca atxa (tool) · pox bordåińă (weapon) · lv cirvis (weapon) · ast hachu (tool) · ki ithanwa (tool) · khb ᦧᦱᧃ (tool) · cu брадꙑ (tool) · inh диг (tool) · ast hacha (tool) · hu fejsze (tool) · sk sekera (tool) · sh сјѐкира (tool) · oc destral (weapon) · eo hakilo (tool) · zh 斧 (weapon) · sga biáil (tool) · osa 𐓨𐓘̋͘𐓡𐓣͘𐓮𐓭𐓟 (mą̄́hįspe) (tool) · cy bwyell (tool) · dsb sekera (tool) · dta sugw (tool) · grc ἀξίνη (tool) · ja 斧 (weapon) · sa कुठार (tool) · mn балт (tool) · koi чер (tool) · yuy süke (tool) · da stridsøkse (weapon) · sva კა̄და (tool) · ko 도끼 (weapon) · aiw wókka (tool) · ota بالطه (weapon) · it taglio (rejection) · nds Äx (tool) · an estral (tool) · tg табар (tool) · my ပုဆိန် (tool) · kn ಕೊಡ್ಲಿ (tool) · ceb wasay (tool) · as কুঠাৰ (tool) · hi कुल्हाड़ी (weapon) · zh 斧頭 /斧头 (weapon) · gd tuagh (tool) · bg секи́ра (tool) · af byl (tool) · br bouc'hal (tool) · ne बन्चरो (tool) · orv сокꙑра (tool) · uz bolta (tool) · av гӏащтӏи (tool) · bg бра́два (weapon) · vec daldora (tool) · kg soka (tool) · ug ئايپالتا (weapon) · aho 𑜁𑜃𑜫 (tool) · ru отка́з (rejection) · fa تَبَرْزین (weapon) · it accetta (tool) · de Axt (tool) · sjt а̄ккша (tool) · bg топо́р (tool) · smn ákšu (tool) · udm тӥр (tool) · ia hacha (tool) · ktb misaanita (tool) · rm siir (tool) · sw shoka (tool) · zza torzin (diq) (tool) · tpi tamiok (tool) · pox seťaŕă (weapon) · ota فاس (weapon) · fax malleta (tool) · nb øks (tool) · hu szekerce (tool) · abq кӏвагъа (tool) · mn сүх (tool) · nio тобәкәә (tool) · pl topór (weapon) · sq thadër (weapon) · hsn 斧頭 /斧头 (tool) · da økse (weapon) · nds Ex (tool) · fo øks (tool) · he גַּרְזֶן (tool) · khb ᦃᦱᧃ (tool) · zza tewerzin (tool) · sjd оа̄ккшэ (tool) · rue топі́р (tool) · sa परशु (tool) · zdj soha (tool) · sl sekira (weapon) · bg секи́ра (weapon) · vi rìu (tool) · fi kenkää (rejection) · mhr товар (tool) · nds Ax (tool)