Hatchet from the French hachette a diminutive form of the word hache, French for axe. The hatchet is a single handed striking tool with a sharp blade used to cut and split wood. Hatchets are taxonomically differentiated from hand axes by some using one or more of the following characteristics: the addition of a hammer head and a head 1-3 pounds (500 to 1,500 grams) in weight.