# chisel

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈt͡ʃɪzəl/ · frequency rank #30,363

## Definitions
1. A cutting tool used to remove parts of stone, wood or metal by pushing or pounding the back when the sharp edge is against the material. It consists of a slim, oblong block of metal with a sharp wedge or bevel formed on one end and sometimes a handle at the other end; there are hand tool versions (the original type) and versions as bits for power tools.
2. A part of any of various tools or devices that has an analogous purpose, cutting raw material or a workpiece during the process that the tool or device performs.
3. A part of any of various tools or devices that has an analogous purpose, cutting raw material or a workpiece during the process that the tool or device performs.

## Etymology
From Middle English chisel, chesel, from Old Northern French chisel, cisel, from cisoir (with a change in suffix), from Late Latin cīsōrium (“cutting tool”), from Latin caedō (“cut”). Doublet of scissors.

## Easily confused with
- **chose** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chisel-vs-chose)
- **chosen** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chisel-vs-chosen)
- **crises** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chisel-vs-crises)
- **chives** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chisel-vs-chives)
- **chiseled** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chisel-vs-chiseled)
- **chief** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chief-vs-chisel)
- **chase** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chase-vs-chisel)
- **chill** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chill-vs-chisel)
- **Chile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chile-vs-chisel)
- **chime** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chime-vs-chisel)
- **chapel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chapel-vs-chisel)
- **chased** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chased-vs-chisel)
- **Chanel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chanel-vs-chisel)
- **chases** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chases-vs-chisel)
- **chaser** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chaser-vs-chisel)
- **chimes** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chimes-vs-chisel)
- **Cassel** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/cassel-vs-chisel)
- **chiral** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chiral-vs-chisel)
- **chimed** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chimed-vs-chisel)
- **chaise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chaise-vs-chisel)

## Common misspellings (9)
`cchisel`, `chhisel`, `chiesl`, `chisell`, `chisle`, `chissel`, `chsiel`, `cihsel`, `hcisel`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/chisel