chisel Hear it!

chisel definition

chisel (c̸hiz′əl)

noun

a hand tool with a sharp, often wedge-shaped, blade for cutting or shaping wood, stone, etc., specif., such a tool that is driven with a mallet or hammer

Etymology: NormFr (OFr cisel) < VL *cisellum, for L *caesellum < caesus, pp. of caedere, to cut: see -cide

intransitive verb, transitive verb chiseled -·eled or chiselled -·elled, chiseling -·el·ing or chiselling -·el·ling

  1. to cut or shape with a chisel
  2. Informal
    1. to take advantage of by cheating, sponging, etc.
    2. to get (something) in this way

Related Forms:

chisel Idioms

chisel in

Informal to force oneself upon others without being asked or welcomed

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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