A hand ax, sometimes spelled hand axe, is a simple tool designed to be held in one hand for chopping, cutting, and shaping wood. There are several synonyms for the word hand ax that you may come across, including hatchet, hand hatchet, hand adze, hand chopper, and hand tomahawk. While they all share some similarities, each of these words has nuanced differences. For instance, a hatchet is often smaller than a hand ax, while a tomahawk typically has a stone or metal blade. Regardless of the exact term used, each of these tools has played an important role in human history, ranging from woodworking to hunting to warfare.