hatchet
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
"to throw the HATCHET," to tell lies. Same as "to draw the long bow."
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “hatchet” mean?
"to throw the HATCHET," to tell lies. Same as "to draw the long bow."
Is “hatchet” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.