Adze
/ædz/noun
A tool used for shaping wood, typically consisting of a blade set at a right angle to the handle.
Did you know?The adze has been used since ancient times, often linked to craftsmanship rituals that were believed to channel the spirit of the wood.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁ed-
“to cut or to carve”
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*adzō
“a cutting tool for woodwork”
Old English
OE
ædese
“a tool for shaping wood, often used in boat building”
Middle English
ME
adze
“a variant of ædese, still referring to the same wood-shaping tool”
Modern English
English
adze
“retaining the same use and form as in Middle English, signifying a tool essential for carpentry and shaping wood.”