A tomahawk is a type of single-handed axe used by the many Indigenous peoples and nations of North America. It traditionally resembles a hatchet with a straight shaft. In pre-colonial times the head was made of stone, bone, or antler, and European settlers later introduced heads of iron and steel. The term came into the English language in the 17th century as an adaptation of the Powhatan (Virginian Algonquian) word.

Tomahawks were general-purpose tools used by Native Americans and later the European colonials with whom they traded, and often employed as a hand-to-hand weapon

Etymology

The name comes from Powhatan tamahaac, derived from the Proto-Algonquian root *temah- 'to cut off by tool'. Algonquian cognates include Lenape təmahikan, Malecite-Passamaquoddy tomhikon, and Abenaki demahigan, all of which mean 'axe'

History

The Algonquian people created the tomahawk. Before Europeans came to the continent, Native Americans would use stones, sharpened by a process of knapping and pecking, attached to wooden handles, secured with strips of rawhide. The tomahawk quickly spread from the Algonquian culture to the tribes of the South and the Great Plains.

Native Americans created a tomahawk’s poll, the side opposite the blade, which consisted of a hammer, spike or pipe. These became known as pipe tomahawks, which consisted of a bowl on the poll and a hollowed out shaft.

General Purpose Tool

Many Native Americans used tomahawks as general-purpose tools. Because they were small and light, they could be used with one hand. This made them ideal for such activities as hunting, chopping, and cutting. Both the Navajo and Cherokee peoples used them in this way. The development of metal-bladed tomahawks expanded their use even more. Most Native Americans had their own individual tomahawks, which they decorated to suit their personal taste. As Native American artwork shows, many of these were decorated with eagle feathers, which represented acts of bravery.

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    • LocalOaf [they/them, ze/hir]
      ·
      15 minutes ago

      Tired and achy

      yes-honey-left

      Gone to the gym everyday this week and the kitties were bouncing off the walls for like 4 hours today causing mayhem screm

      Barely found time to eat and take my supplements

      They've finally simmered down for a nap but I was on my feet keeping them from wrecking up the place for like 4 hours

      Got my new hat in the mail though, so that's nice :3

      It's a little tight, but I think it'll loosen up and I really like how it looks

      • Cowbee [he/him, they/them]
        ·
        10 minutes ago

        The cats and the hats kelly

        My fiancé really wants a cat but we don't have the space, money, or stability for one yet, so we live vicariously through cat pictures like the ones you post cuddle

    • blipblip [he/him, they/them]
      ·
      3 hours ago

      Stressful morning that's entirely my fault, just forgetting shit and having to race around to get caught up, ending with me jamming a few fingers while carrying some stuff

      Now I'm just tired and waiting for a bunch of people to get back to me before I can actually do anything else

      • Cowbee [he/him, they/them]
        ·
        3 hours ago

        Oh, ouch... sorry to hear that, comrade. Sounds painful!

        Kinda nice to only have to wait, especially if you're tired though (unless it is stopping you from finishing for the day)!

        • blipblip [he/him, they/them]
          ·
          3 hours ago

          Hurt like a motherfucker at the time but there's no marks or anything so it's probably fine. Somehow both my thumbs have little cuts on them and I've got no idea when that happened today.

          There's like one thing I'm anticipating having to do today if my boss gets around to doing their part but otherwise I'm likely just sitting here till it's time to head home.

          • LocalOaf [they/them, ze/hir]
            ·
            13 minutes ago

            My hands are covered in bandages from cat claws and I have a gnarly bruise on one hand from raging and whacking a barbecue with a baseball bat aubrey-bat

            Thankfully I don't think I broke any bones

      • Cowbee [he/him, they/them]
        ·
        4 hours ago

        I'm sorry to hear that, comrade. I just came out of a depressive slump, personally, so I can at least say it will likely get better in time meow-hug

    • Frank [he/him, he/him]
      ·
      4 hours ago

      Wood is much harder to work with than I think is reasonable.

      Also, the cheapest jack plane i could find has a handle that is far too small for my hands but i did get it sharp enough to do it's job first try.

      I wish i could remember what i wanted to make that set off this whole adventure. cat-confused

      • Cowbee [he/him, they/them]
        ·
        4 hours ago

        Haha, more power to you! Woodworking is a hobby I'm not sure I could get into, but it looks fun!