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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  • PointAndClique [they/them]
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    edit-2
    7 hours ago

    Cringe Pokemon unite game recap

    spoiler

    Show
    This thing is a beast

    Credit where it's due, Pokemon Unite really makes playing defenders/supporters fun. Just had a really good Umbreon game which was the epitome of the :call-an-ambulance: meme. Running focus band (passive regain hp when it drops low) resonant guard (shield for self and allies, procs when you hit an enemy with a movie) and exp share (ally gets 100% of farm exp, you get 30%). Got my lane ally to lvl 6 Espeon early, same level as their jungle leafeon, their leaf pushes onto our goal with blissey safeguard while I'm retreating ~40% hp, triggers focus band, I outlast the leaf blade on ~5%hp, I turn around stun them twice with foul play, shield procs espy endures and hits them with psyshock they're history.

    I really hope when they introduce the last eeveelutions they're as fun as this