machete

Meanings

Noun

• A sword-like tool used for cutting large plants with a chopping motion, or as a weapon. The blade is usually 50 to 65 centimeters long, and up to three millimeters thick.

Verb

• To cut or chop with a machete.
• To hack or chop crudely with a blade other than a machete.

Related

Similar words

• bolo
• sundang

Origin

• From Spanish machete, diminutive of macho, from Latin mattea, possibly from mactare; cognate with Old French machier, French massue, English mace.