chisel English · revision 1546

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1323}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈt͡ʃɪzəl/^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|chisel]],^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(MED) [[bor|xno|chisel]], the Old North French form corresponding to [[fro|cisel]] (modern [[fr|ciseau]]),^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la-vul|*cīsellum]], an alteration of [[m|la-vul|*caesellum|t=cutting tool]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)^(Klein 1966) a diminutive from [[la|caesus|t=cut]], past participle of [[m|la|caedere|t=to cut]].^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate) The ''-ī-'' may come from [[la-lat|cīsōrium|t=cutting instrument]].^(Hoad 1986)^(RHWU) The root is [[ine-pro|*kae-id-|t=to strike]].^(Etymonline)^(AHD)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Any of several cutting tools used by masons, sculptors, carpenters or metalworkers (1323 in Barnhart; 1353 in the MED; 1382 in the OED).^(Barnhart 1995)^(MED)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The Old French word in the plural meant scissors, as does modern French ''ciseaux''.^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The verb, to cut with a chisel, dates from 1509.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate) The slang sense “to cheat, defraud” is first recorded in 1808 as ''chizzel'', in a Scottish dictionary;^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(GDoS) its connection with the older word is obscure, but it may mean “to cut close”, as in a bargain.^(Etymonline)^(Partridge 1966)^(MWU 2024) The sense “to intrude, butt in” is American, from 1936.^(OED 1989)^(MW Collegiate) The ''chiseler'', a cheat, dates from 1918.^(Barnhart 1995)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1323 – noun, the tool.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1509 – verb, to cut with a chisel.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(MW Collegiate)

+ * 1808 – ''chizzel'', to cheat.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(GDoS)

+ * 1918 – ''chiseler'', a cheat.^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1936 – to intrude, butt in.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A metal tool with a sharp, bevelled cutting edge at one end, used to cut and shape wood, stone or metal, often struck with a [[mallet]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To cut, shape or carve with a chisel.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(slang)'' To [[cheat]] or [[swindle]]; to obtain by deception.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To intrude without welcome, as in ''chisel in''.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[chiseler]]

+ * [[chisellike]]

+ * [[butt chisel]]

+ * [[cold chisel]]

+ * [[framing chisel]]

+ * [[set chisel]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[scissors]]

+ * [[incise]]

+ * [[concise]]

+ * [[caesura]]

+ * [[cement]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}