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Glite Dictionary
claw hatchet

claw hatchet

8.1
A small axe with a curved, split back used to pull nails and cut wood
  • noun
translation icon : hacha de garra
  • A claw hatchet is ideal for small demolition tasks and pulling nails from wood.

Examples

  • The carpenter reached for his claw hatchet to remove the stubborn nail.

  • The carpenter always carries a claw hatchet in his toolbelt.

  • He packed his claw hatchet along with other essential tools for the hiking trip.

  • He used a claw hatchet to remove the old nails.

  • A claw hatchet is perfect for pulling nails from wood during renovation projects.

  • The contractor used a claw hatchet to swiftly remove the old spikes from the deck.

  • She made sure to pack her claw hatchet before starting her woodworking project.

Surface Forms

claw hatchet singular
claw hatchets plural

Morphology

claw + hatchet

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'claw' (a gripping/pulling part) with 'hatchet' (a small axe): it denotes a hatchet that has a claw for pulling nails as well as cutting. This is a straightforward noun–noun compound following common compositional patterns, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would likely infer its form and function.

Etymology

Claw hatchet comes from the tool's look: a small hatchet (a short 'axe') with a split, curved back that looks like a claw. Because it can both cut and 'pull nails', the name describes a small axe used for cutting and removing nails.