chis·el (chĭz'əl)
n.
A metal tool with a sharp beveled edge, used to cut and shape stone, wood, or metal.


v., -eled, or -elled, -el·ing, or -el·ling, -els, or -els.

v.tr.

1. To shape or cut with a chisel.
2. Informal.
   1. To cheat or swindle.
   2. To obtain by deception.

v.intr.

1. To use a chisel.
2. Informal.
   1. To use unethical methods; cheat: "who's up, who's down and who's chiseling on the side" (James Reston).
   2. 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.]

chiseler chis'el·er n.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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