tomahawk

[ tom-uh-hawk ]

noun

1. a light ax used by the North American Indians as a weapon and tool.
2. any of various similar weapons or implements.
3. (in Australia) a stone hatchet used by Aboriginal peoples.

verb (used with object)

1. to attack, wound, or kill with or as if with a tomahawk.

tomahawk

/ ˈtɒməˌhɔːk /

noun

1. a fighting axe, with a stone or later an iron head, used by the North American Indians
2. the usual word for hatchet

Other Words From

• toma·hawker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tomahawk¹

First recorded in 1605–15; from Virginia Algonquian ( English spelling) tamahaac “hatchet,” equivalent to Proto-Algonquian temah- “to cut (it) off” (unattested ) + -a·kan- “instrument for” (unattested)

Word History and Origins

Origin of tomahawk¹

C17: from Virginia Algonquian tamahaac

Example Sentences

At Truist Park, which opened in 2017, a giant neon tomahawk beyond the center field fence slashes along with the crowd.

From Washington Post

It once manufactured tourist items such as tomahawks and bows and arrows, which it sold to the Braves to offer at souvenir stands.

From Washington Post

Australia will also acquire additional long-range strike capabilities for its defense force, including the tomahawk cruise missile for its destroyers, longer range air-to-surface missiles and long-range anti-ship missiles for fighter jets.

From Time

One of my favorites involves a Native warrior practicing with his tomahawk.

From Popular-Science

Jimbo sat behind me, and patted me on the back with his heavy tomahawk of a paw.

From The Daily Beast

That was right after an initial wave of U.S. Navy Tomahawk cruise missiles hit their targets around Aleppo and Raqqah.

From The Daily Beast

The USS Arleigh Burke, a destroyer, and USS Philippine Sea, a cruiser, launched a total of 47 Tomahawk missiles.

From The Daily Beast

You see people in war paint or doing the tomahawk chop and saying, “Scalp him.”

From The Daily Beast

Each Tomahawk carries a single 1,000-pound bomb or 166 smaller cluster bombs.

From The Daily Beast

When the seringuero starts out he equips himself with a tomahawk-like axe having a handle about thirty inches long.

From Project Gutenberg

I told Ward to tomahawk me if he wished, but that I must rest before moving another step.

From Project Gutenberg

Trowel and spade and tomahawk went furiously to work, and soon cleared away the gravel from a surface of three or four feet.

From Project Gutenberg

Then another warrior rushed into the circle and drove his tomahawk into a painted post near the fire.

From Project Gutenberg

This occurred at noon, and, after snatching a hasty meal, he put a tomahawk into Jem's hands and darted into the bush.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• machete