hand ax

noun

1
: a short-handled ax intended for use with one hand
2
: a prehistoric stone tool having one end pointed for cutting and the other end rounded for holding in the hand

Examples of hand ax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The hand ax emerged during a shift in early human innovation about 1.7 million years ago in a time called the Acheulean age that lasted until about 150,000 years ago. — Ashley Strickland, CNN, 5 Mar. 2025 Witten has lent the hand ax to the Worthing Museum, where it will be displayed until February. — Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of hand ax was before the 12th century

Rhymes for hand ax

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Browse Nearby Words

handarm
hand ax
hand back
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Cite this Entry

“Hand ax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hand%20ax. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about hand ax

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