broadax

or broad·axe

[ brawd-aks ]

noun

, plural broad·ax·es [brawd, -ak-siz].

1. an ax for hewing timber.
2. an ax with a broad head, used as a battle-ax.

Word History and Origins

Origin of broadax¹

before 1000; Middle English brodax, Old English brādæx. See broad, ax

Example Sentences

A broadax was, you know, twelve or fourteen inches wide and the handle was curved a little.

From Project Gutenberg

We had a broadax and we drove it into a block of wood and used it for an anvil.

From Project Gutenberg

The joists above and below were made of logs, the upper ones squared with a broadax.

From Project Gutenberg

Our table was made of puncheons split with a wedge and hewed with a broadax.

From Project Gutenberg

Our floor was of maple split with wedges and hewed out with a broadax.

From Project Gutenberg