edge tool

English

Etymology

From Middle English egge tool

Noun

edge tool (plural edge tools)

1. (archaic) A tool or weapon with a sharpened edge or blade.
   • 1577, Holinshed’s Chronicles, London: John Hunne, Volume 2, “Of the Marueyles of Englande,” Chapter 18,^[1]

     There is a Well […] in Wales, which is sayde to double or trible, the force of any edge toole that is quenched in the same.

   • c. 1613, Nathan Field, John Fletcher and Philip Massinger, The Honest Man’s Fortune, Act II, Scene 1, in Comedies and tragedies written by Francis Beaumont and Iohn Fletcher, London: Humphrey Robinson, 1647, ^[2]

     I am glad he’s gon, for I do not love to see a sword drawn in the hand of a man that lookes so furious, ther’s no jesting with edge tooles, how say you Captaine?

   • 1772, David Garrick, The Irish Widow‎^[3], London: T. Becket, Act II, p. 47:

     Your hard usage has sharpen’d your Nephew’s wits, therefore beware, don’t play with edge-tools—you’ll only cut your fingers.

   • 1850, Charles Dickens, chapter 29, in David Copperfield‎^[4], London: Bradbury & Evans, page 307:

     “ […] I told you she took every thing, herself included, to a grindstone, and sharpened it. She is an edge-tool, and requires great care in dealing with. […] ”

   • 1968, Ursula K. Le Guin, chapter 10, in A Wizard of Earthsea‎^[5], New York: Bantam, published 1975, page 170:

     […] children are not given their true name during the Fallows, and no Deeds are sung, nor swords nor edge-tools sharpened, nor oaths sworn.