Axe

thumb| An axe (sometimes ax in American English; see spelling differences) is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood, to harvest timber, as a weapon, and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol. The axe has many forms and specialised uses but generally consists of an axe head with a handle, or helve. Quotes It is impossible to sharpen a pencil with a blunt axe. It is equally vain to try to do it with ten blunt axes instead. Edsger W. Dijkstra, "How do we tell truths that might hurt?" (1975). Published in ACM SIGPLAN Notices 17:5 (May 1982), pp. 13–15 The woodman's axe lies free,And the reaper's work is done. Felicia Hemans, "Evening Song of the Tyrolese Peasants", st. 1, in Forget Me Not for 1829 (1828) p. 137 Some wield the sounding axe; the dodder'd oaksDivide, obedient to the forceful strokes. Homer, Odyssey, bk. 20, translated by Alexander Pope (1725) Whenever there is excess, an axe remedies it! Sumerian proverb, Collection XVIII at ETCSL Hatchet Hatchet, n. A young axe, known among Indians as a Thomashawk."O bury the hatchet, irascible Red,For peace is a blessing," the White Man said.The Savage concurred, and that weapon interred,With imposing rites, in the White Man's head.  John Lukkus Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary (1911) External links axe Axes "Axe" . Encyclopedia Americana. 1920. "Axe" . New International Encyclopedia. 1905. "Axe" . The American Cyclopædia. 1879. "Axe". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). 1911. Category:Weapons Category:Tools