tomahawk
tomahawk
UK[ˈtɒm.ə.hɔːk]US[ˈtɑː.mə.hɑːk]
n
a type of light axe used as a tool or weapon by some native american peoples.
v
to strike or cut with or as if with a tomahawk.
Etymology
the word 'tomahawk' entered english in the early 17th century from the powhatan word 'tamahaac', meaning a cutting tool or weapon. powhatan is an algonquian language, a family indigenous to north america. the term was adopted by english colonists to specifically refer to the light axes used by native american peoples, which were often made of stone or metal. over time, its use expanded metaphorically, giving rise to the verb form meaning to strike with such force or precision.
Analysis
the word is a loanword from algonquian languages (specifically powhatan 'tamahaac') and is not meaningfully divisible into smaller morphemes using english spelling conventions.
Examples
the museum displayed a traditional tomahawk with a stone head and a wooden handle.
the quarterback tomahawked the football through the tight defensive coverage.
in historical reenactments, he demonstrated how to properly throw a tomahawk.