"A cutting-tool somewhat like an ax, but having the blade placed at right angles to the handle and formed to a curve nearly corresponding to its sweep through the air when in use."-Whitney, 1902

Adz

"A cutting-tool somewhat like an ax, but having the blade placed at right angles to the handle and formed…

"A cutting-tool somewhat like an ax, but having the blade placed at right angles to the handle and formed to a curve nearly corresponding to its sweep through the air when in use."-Whitney, 1902

Adz

"A cutting-tool somewhat like an ax, but having the blade placed at right angles to the handle and formed…

Before the days of sawmills, the posts and beams of a house were manually cut out of logs. In building a frame house the old builders had a tool resembling an ax and called an adz. This is a wood-cutting tool with a curved blade and a straight cutting edge, with a bezel like a chisel.

Adz

Before the days of sawmills, the posts and beams of a house were manually cut out of logs. In building…

"A tool adapted for molding and rabbeting, used in panel-work by coach- and pattern-makers."-Whitney, 1902

Adz-plane

"A tool adapted for molding and rabbeting, used in panel-work by coach- and pattern-makers."-Whitney,…

A pile of armor pieces including a helm, spears, and maces.

A Knight's Armor

A pile of armor pieces including a helm, spears, and maces.

An axe, or ax, is an implement that is used to shape, split and cut wood, harvest timber, as a weapon and a ceremonial or heraldic symbol.

Ax

An axe, or ax, is an implement that is used to shape, split and cut wood, harvest timber, as a weapon…

An iron tool with a steel edge, for hewing and chopping.

Ax

An iron tool with a steel edge, for hewing and chopping.

A battle ax having no spike or beak on the opposite side, but an extremely elongated blade.

Danish Ax

A battle ax having no spike or beak on the opposite side, but an extremely elongated blade.

"Axe." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Axe

"Axe." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

The grubber or grubbing axe is useful for uprooting trees. It is similar in shape to the ordinary pick, but both points are flattened and made wedge shaped.

Grubber or Grubbing Axe

The grubber or grubbing axe is useful for uprooting trees. It is similar in shape to the ordinary pick,…

Axe-hammers of polished stone. A Neolithic age implement. Not drawn to scale.

Neolithic Implements Axe-hammers

Axe-hammers of polished stone. A Neolithic age implement. Not drawn to scale.

"And she, being put forward by her mother, saith, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. And the king was grieved; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat with him, he commanded it to be given; and he sent and beheaded John in the prison." Matthew 14:8-10 ASV
<p>Illustration of John the Baptist, having just been unshackled, kneeling in prayer while a soldier waits to behead him with an axe. . A shaft of light beams down on John. Salome can be seen just outside the archway with a platter in her hands.

John the Baptist Prays in Prison Just Before His Beheading

"And she, being put forward by her mother, saith, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.…

The Boston Tea Party - Destruction of the Tea in the Boston Harbor

The Boston Tea Party

The Boston Tea Party - Destruction of the Tea in the Boston Harbor

Boy with axe.

Boy

Boy with axe.

Three bronze celts (axes). Not drawn to scale.

Bronze Age Bronze Celts

Three bronze celts (axes). Not drawn to scale.

Copper axes from the Bronze age. Not drawn to scale.

Bronze Age Copper Axes

Copper axes from the Bronze age. Not drawn to scale.

A small, short-handled ax for use in one hand.

Adz Hatchet

A small, short-handled ax for use in one hand.

An Indian on Warpath, carrying an axe and a torch.

Indian on Warpath

An Indian on Warpath, carrying an axe and a torch.

It has a large flat blade with a straight edge. At the back is a peen or hammer head, and in the middle is a socket for the handle or helve, the blade and helve being in one line.

Lather's Hatchet

It has a large flat blade with a straight edge. At the back is a peen or hammer head, and in the middle…

A man felling a tree. He chops the tree down with an axe.

Man Felling a Tree

A man felling a tree. He chops the tree down with an axe.

A man splitting wood with an axe.

Man Splitting Wood

A man splitting wood with an axe.

A pick with a point at one end, a transverse edge or blade at the other, and a handle inserted at the middle.

Pickax

A pick with a point at one end, a transverse edge or blade at the other, and a handle inserted at the…

A machine used to separate cotton from dirt, twigs, etc.

Pickax

A machine used to separate cotton from dirt, twigs, etc.

A sharp pointed weapon consisting of a long shaft or handle with an iron head.

Pike

A sharp pointed weapon consisting of a long shaft or handle with an iron head.

A sharp pointed weapon consisting of a long shaft or handle with an iron head.

Pike

A sharp pointed weapon consisting of a long shaft or handle with an iron head.

A sort of ax or hatchet fixed to a pole or handle.

Poleax

A sort of ax or hatchet fixed to a pole or handle.

A kind of file with a somewhat curved extremity, suitable for working in small depressions.

Riffler

A kind of file with a somewhat curved extremity, suitable for working in small depressions.

A boy waking a bear from his hibernation by hacking at his home with an axe.

Rudely Awoken

A boy waking a bear from his hibernation by hacking at his home with an axe.

"The shipwright's axe." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Shipwrights Axe

"The shipwright's axe." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

A sword and axe resting on a square block.

Sword and axe

A sword and axe resting on a square block.

A young boy trying to chop down a tree with an axe.

Tree Chop

A young boy trying to chop down a tree with an axe.

Illustration of a drawing in <I>The Harley Psalter</I>, an illuminated manuscript of the second and third decades of the 11th century. Two Anglo-Saxon warriors ride horseback wielding an axe and long spear or javelin. Both horses are rearing up, their front legs off the ground. Both weapons are raised. The warrior in front has dark hair while the hair of the one behind appears to be lighter-colored.

Two Anglo-Saxon Warriors on Horseback

Illustration of a drawing in The Harley Psalter, an illuminated manuscript of the second and third decades…

Lictors were guards of magistrates who carried fasces to show power to execute. Two men, one young, one older, stand side by side, each holding fasces. Fasces are axes bound to bundles of wooden rods. These lictors function as bodyguards. The men are wearing togas.

Two Attendants, or Lictors, of a King or Consul

Lictors were guards of magistrates who carried fasces to show power to execute. Two men, one young,…

"The wedge axe (which was one of the first American improvements in edge tools introduced into Europe)." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Wedge Axe

"The wedge axe (which was one of the first American improvements in edge tools introduced into Europe)."…

"Woodman's felling axe." &mdash; Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

Woodman's Axe

"Woodman's felling axe." — Encyclopedia Britannica, 1893

A cartoon of a young man holding a pickaxe, with expletives coming out of his mouth.

Young Man Holding Pickaxe

A cartoon of a young man holding a pickaxe, with expletives coming out of his mouth.