n. A metal tool with a sharp beveled edge, used to cut and shape stone, wood, or metal. v. chis·eled, chis·el·ing, chis·els or chis·elled or chis·el·ling v.tr. 1. To shape or cut with a chisel. 2. Informal a. To cheat or swindle. b. To obtain by deception. v.intr. 1. To use a chisel. 2. Informal a. To use unethical methods; cheat: "who's up, who's down and who's chiseling on the side" (James Reston). b. To intrude oneself without welcome: always tries to chisel in on our conversations. [Middle English, from Old French cisiel, from Vulgar Latin *cīsellus, cutting tool, from diminutive of Latin caesus, past participle of caedere, to cut; see kaə-id- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] chisel·er n. (click for a larger image) chiselleft: cold metal chisel with a flat head top to bottom: cape, round-nose, and diamond-point metal chisel heads |
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