DCHP-1 Online
hatchet 
in phrases where the hatchet symbolizes war; originally an Indian metaphor:
1 n. Obs. heave up the hatchet against, threaten or promise to make war on.
- c1665 (1885) In those feasts my father heaves up his hatchet against the Algonquins.
2 n. Obs. send a hatchet, invite to join an alliance for making war.
- 1796 (1932) The last accounts from the Westward inform us that the Creeks have sent a hatchet to the Hurons and the other Indian tribes of that confederacy.
- 1814 . . . when you sent the hatchet, we took hold of it, Father, and made use of it, Father, as you know.
3 † n. Obs. take up the hatchet, declare war; make war.
- 1812 If we took up the hatchet it was in vain. . . .
- 1812 They were the first to take up the hatchet, the first to begin the war dance.
- 1912 (1913) To "take up the hatchet" was to declare war. . . .
4 † n. bury the hatchet, stop fighting; make peace; end a quarrel.
See also: tomahawk ((n.)) (def. 2)
- 1703 [Burying the axe signifies peace.]
- 1850 It was at length announced that a great deputation was coming from all the cantons, with the intention of "uniting the whole earth," and "of burying the hatchet so deep that it might never again be dug up."
- 1908 "And to see us . . . kiss the hatchet and bury it as we spoke," added another.
- 1942 "There wasn't any god in Nova Scotia in '49. Only the Injun god Muntoo--him the French priests called the devil. We gave 'em Muntoo, from '49 to '61, when they buried the hatchet at last."
- 1956 When freeze-up came we were going to cut each other's throats in business, but the hatchet would be buried until that time came around.
5 † n. dig up the hatchet, resume hostilities; break a peace agreed to by burying the hatchet.
- 1840 (1860) This agreement is often accompanied with professions, at the moment perhaps sincere, of maintaining the sun always in the heavens, and never again digging up the hatchet.
- 1913 To dig up the hatchet, to recall the cause of strife or to renew the quarrel.