Definition

Noun: A small hatchet with a notch or cleft in the blade, specifically designed for pulling nails.

Usage

The term "claw hatchet" refers to a specific type of hand tool. It is used primarily in carpentry and woodworking. The primary function is for light chopping or shaping wood, while the secondary function, enabled by the claw, is for extracting nails.

Examples

• The carpenter used a claw hatchet to remove the old, rusty nails from the wooden plank.
• For small demolition projects, a claw hatchet is more versatile than a standard hammer.
• Keep a claw hatchet in your toolbox; it's perfect for prying apart crates and pulling nails.

Advanced Usage

• As a specialized tool: The claw hatchet is often favored in restoration work where careful removal of fasteners is required without damaging the surrounding wood.
• Historical context: This tool represents an evolution from the simpler hatchet, combining cutting and prying functions into one implement for efficiency.

Variants and Related Words

• Hatchet (noun): A small axe with a short handle, used for chopping.
• Claw hammer (noun): A hammer with a forked claw for pulling nails. (Note: This is a different tool, as a hammer is for driving nails, while a hatchet is for cutting.)
• Nail puller (noun): A general term for any tool designed to extract nails.

Synonyms

• Nail hatchet
• Shingling hatchet (Note: A shingling hatchet is a very similar tool, often with a notch for pulling nails and sometimes a hammer face for driving them, used specifically in roofing.)

Related Phrases

• To pull nails: The primary action performed with the claw part of the tool.
  • Example: He used the claw of the hatchet to pull the nails out cleanly.

Noun

1. a hatchet that has a cleft for pulling nails