Chisel

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɪzÉ™l

Origin

From Old French cisel (French ciseau), from Vulgar Latin *cisellum, from Latin caesellum, from caesus, past participle of caedere ("to cut").

Full definition of chisel

Noun

1. A cutting tool consisting of a slim oblong block of metal with a sharp wedge or bevel formed on one end. It may be provided with a handle at the other end. It is used to remove parts of stone, wood or metal by placing the sharp edge against the material to be cut and pushing or pounding the other end with a hammer, or mallet.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To use a chisel.
2. (transitive) To work something with a chisel.She chiselled a sculpture out of the block of wood.
3. (intransitive, informal) To cheat, to get something by cheating.

Usage notes

chiselling and chiselled are more common in the UK while chiseling and chiseled are more common in the US.

Derived terms

• chiseler, chiseller
• chisel in on

Anagrams

• chiles
• liches