axman
|ax-man|
/ˈæksmən/
person with an axe
Etymology
'axman' originates from Old English, specifically the words 'æx' and 'mann', where 'æx' meant 'axe' and 'mann' meant 'man'.
'axman' changed from Old English compound 'æxmann' and Middle English 'axeman' and eventually became the modern English word 'axman'.
Initially, it meant 'a man who uses an axe' but over time it also evolved to include slang senses such as 'a guitarist' and figurative uses like 'a person who cuts jobs'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who chops wood with an axe; a woodcutter or lumberjack.
The axman chopped firewood all afternoon.
Synonyms
Noun 2
informal: a person (often an executive) who makes job cuts or dismisses employees — 'the person who wields the axe' in staff reductions.
When the company restructured, the axman cut 200 positions.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/12/06 06:44