hew

transitive verb hewed, hewed or hewn, hewing

1. to chop or cut with an ax, knife, etc.; hack; gash
2. to make or shape by or as by cutting or chopping with an ax, etc.: often with out
3. to chop (a tree) with an ax so as to cause it to fall: usually with down

Origin: ME hewen < OE heawan, akin to Ger hauen, OHG houwan < IE base *kāu-, *keu-, to hew, strike > hay, L caudex, codex, cudere

intransitive verb

1. to make cutting or chopping blows with an ax, knife, etc.
2. ☆ to conform or adhere (to a line, rule, principle, etc.)