tomahawk
Americannoun
-
tomahawks
plural
-
a light ax used by the North American Indians as a weapon and tool.
-
any of various similar weapons or implements.
-
(in Australia) a stone hatchet used by Aboriginal peoples.
verb (used with object)
-
tomahawks,
present (3rd person singular)
-
tomahawked,
past participle, past
-
tomahawking
present participle
noun
-
a fighting axe, with a stone or later an iron head, used by the North American Indians
-
the usual word for hatchet
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
tomahawksimple
-
tomahawkssimple
-
have tomahawkedperfect
-
has tomahawkedperfect
-
am tomahawkingprogressive
-
are tomahawkingprogressive
-
is tomahawkingprogressive
-
have been tomahawkingperfect progressive
-
has been tomahawkingperfect progressive
Past
-
tomahawkedsimple
-
had tomahawkedperfect
-
was tomahawkingprogressive
-
were tomahawkingprogressive
-
had been tomahawkingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of tomahawk
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)
Explanation
A tomahawk is an axe-like tool that was invented by the Algonquian people of North America. Originally made of stone or antler, newer tomahawks have metal heads and wooden handles. After Algonquins developed the tomahawk using sharpened rock, wood, and rawhide to bind the two together, other indigenous groups also adopted the tool. Once Europeans arrived on the continent, steel and iron were used to make tomahawk heads. There were many uses for tomahawks, including as a weapon in hand-to-hand fighting. The word comes from the Virginia Algonquin tamahaac, "what is used in cutting," and tamaham, "he cuts."
Vocabulary lists containing tomahawk
Native American History - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Native American History - Middle School and High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Kwame Crashes the Underworld
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Branded tomahawk steaks and “The Future is Public” cocktails will be served to guests.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026
Hundreds of pounds of caviar, black truffle, sushi and tomahawk steak have been shipped to Hollywood for the traditional lavish Oscars after-party this Sunday.
From Barron's ● Mar. 11, 2026
For eight breathtaking seasons, LeBron James has poured his soul into pleasing a passionate fan base such that he still fills Crypto.com Arena with joy and light and tomahawk dunks at age 41.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 17, 2026
Until this weekend I never saw anybody use a tomahawk missile or witnessed the CIA being involved in such operations.
From Salon ● Jan. 9, 2026
He held a tomahawk in one hand and a hand of tobacco in the other.
From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith
The Braves did not place their usual foam tomahawks on seats for Game 2 of that series, a decision the franchise said was a result of Helsley’s comments.
From Washington Post ● Oct. 28, 2021
Following Helsley's complaint, the Braves stopped distributing the red foam tomahawks used by fans doing the chop during the series.
From Fox News ● Oct. 28, 2021
“He seems so full of joy. He’s big, and I like to imagine he does stuff to make himself bigger, but not gym stuff … more like throwing tomahawks or fighting sharks,” she says.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 26, 2020
The nation needs windmills, 360s, and ferocious tomahawks more than ever before.
From Slate ● Mar. 19, 2020
One after one, the tomahawks of the Senecas were thrown, with divers success.
From The Frontiersmen by Gustave Aimard
Gallen left another pitch up in the fourth and Albies tomahawked it out to right, tying it at 3.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 5, 2023
"He got the outs. Calhoun just tomahawked that ball. It’s why it’s the big leagues."
From Fox News ● Apr. 25, 2021
I’m telling you, it cut a yard, and it was tomahawked.
From Golf Digest ● Mar. 24, 2020
First, Nene viciously tomahawked a dunk over Gobert to net the Wizards’ first points.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 19, 2015
Day and night they were on their guard; the chirping of the small bird by day, as well as the hooting of an owl by night—either might be the feigned voice of a tomahawked enemy.
From Dahcotah Life and Legends of the Sioux Around Fort Snelling by Mary H. (Mary Henderson) Eastman
Battles with Nick Faldo, tomahawking a club into a lake, claiming Tiger Woods intentionally tried to distract him mid-swing?
From Golf Digest ● Aug. 6, 2019
Next time up the floor, Griffin attacked the basket, intent on tomahawking a one-handed dunk over Nene.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 21, 2015
His head throbbed from the tomahawking, but his wits were still in working order, and when asked by Satanta where he had been, he replied that he had been out searching for "whoa-haws."
From Last of the Great Scouts : the life story of Col. William F. Cody, "Buffalo Bill" as told by his sister by Helen Cody Wetmore
Croker openly said that he expected to lose his pension very shortly, and, being wishful to make himself a literary position before that event happened, he had begun by "tomahawking Miss Martineau."
From Harriet Martineau by Florence Fenwick Miller
“Fool!” exclaimed Magadar, scarce able to refrain from tomahawking the brave in his wrath—“launch the canoes and give chase.”
From The Walrus Hunters A Romance of the Realms of Ice by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
