chisel

[chiz-uhl]

noun

1. a wedgelike tool with a cutting edge at the end of the blade, often made of steel, used for cutting or shaping wood, stone, etc.

2. chisel plow.

3. Astronomy.,  Chisel, the constellation Caelum.

verb (used with object)

chiseled, chiseling , chiselled, chiselling .

1. to cut, shape, or fashion by or as if by carving with a chisel.

2. to cheat or swindle (someone).

   He chiseled me out of fifty dollars.

3. to get (something) by cheating or trickery.

   He chiseled fifty dollars out of me.

verb (used without object)

chiseled, chiseling , chiselled, chiselling .

1. to work with a chisel.

2. to trick; cheat.

chisel

/ ˈtʃɪzəl /

noun

1. 1. a hand tool for working wood, consisting of a flat steel blade with a cutting edge attached to a handle of wood, plastic, etc. It is either struck with a mallet or used by hand

   2. a similar tool without a handle for working stone or metal

verb

1. to carve (wood, stone, metal, etc) or form (an engraving, statue, etc) with or as with a chisel

2. slang,  to cheat or obtain by cheating

Other Word Forms

• chisel-like adjective
• chisellike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chisel¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English, from Anglo-French, variant of Old French cisel, from unattested Vulgar Latin cīsellus, diminutive of unattested cīsus, for Latin caesus, past participle of caedere “to cut,” with -ī- generalized from prefixed derivatives; excide

Word History and Origins

Origin of chisel¹

C14: via Old French, from Vulgar Latin cīsellus (unattested), from Latin caesus cut, from caedere to cut

Example Sentences

Redford’s most memorable roles were arguably those that exploited the juxtaposition of the actor’s chiseled, class-president good looks and his ability to conjure up a scarred and hostile psyche.

From Los Angeles Times

He’s got big hands and his chiseled body should help make him a dominant figure when the Knights get him the ball.

From Los Angeles Times

He was the "full package," Mr Tracey added, "including the chiselled good looks".

From BBC

If you’ve been there, then you know that the stark and hallowed message of that memorial is “Freedom Is Not Free,” words chiseled in stone.

From Salon

Matthews was armed with a "long, thin, silver metal spike type" item which was "not dissimilar" to the chisel he used in the attack on Mr Bell, Mr Makepeace said.

From BBC

Related Words

• blade 
• knife