3 hrs confidence:  peer agreement (net): +1 twibill, twybill
Explanation:
As an alternative.
<<twibill, twybill 1. A kind of axe with two cutting edges; formerly used for cutting mortises - 1686 ...>>
[Shorter Oxford]
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Note added at 2003-11-12 00:57:55 (GMT)
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As shown in Dicobat, the bisaiguë resembles less and axe than one of those (modern) truncheons or fighting sticks the police use, a stick with a handle projecting from it at right angles towards the middle. Except that the bisaiguë is a heavy steel bar, with chisel points at each end, and the handle is smackbang in the middle, so it can be used with equal efficiency either way. I rather get the impression that it is not something that is swung (or struck) so much as pushed, a bit like one of those \"elbow planes\" (plane with a handle at the front end, that attaches to the forearm at the back, thus leaving the other hand free to hold the workpiece).
| Bourth (X)
Local time: 02:22
Native speaker of:  English
PRO pts in pair: 18679
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20 mins confidence: | bisaiguë besaiguë : "mortising axe"
Explanation:
The Robert prefers "besaiguë", noting that it appears as early as 1160 [!!] and comes from the Low Latin _bisacuta_, "deux fois aiguë".
Gilbert's translation works, though it could also be called a "mortising axe".
Used for "chopping" mortises (and, perhaps, large tenons) : if *really* sharp it could work very well, though very small strokes would be necessary, in order to keep control of where it struck.
I've never seen one in the U.S. --American carpenters apparently preferred to use drills (initially) and "mortising chisels" (for "trueing up" the walls), including a "corner chisel" for getting the corners right. These would be stuck by a mallet.
I would suspect that one couldn't use such an axe to actually *begin* the mortise, because it would be too difficult to control *exactly* where the first stroke hit --and mortising has to be done with considerable precision.
But, once begun with a regular mortising chisel, the axe might be quicker to use for cutting to size and depth.
The principle is that the momentum generated by swinging the heavy, double head obviates the use of a mallet.
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Note added at 28 mins (2003-11-11 18:50:06 GMT)
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\"Swinging\" is perhaps too strong a word to use, in that last sentence.
I doubt if there was much \"swing\" to it ; but just short movements of such a heavy chisel would work fine, again providing it was kept razor sharp.
In this way, an analogous tool might be a \"slick\", which is a very, very large (12-18 inches long, 3-4 wide) chisel --it is never struck, but rather moved across the surface of a piece of wood, the blade dead flat on it, and works because of the momentum its weight gives it.
A lovely tool to use.
Wish I hadn\'t sold mine.
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Note added at 8 days (2003-11-20 13:57:11 GMT) Post-grading
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I think that Bourth may well have the \"technical\" name for this thing.
http://assoc.wanadoo.fr/bois.tcb/twibill.html
And, as I also said, he is right about this tool not being \"swung (or struck)\", but pushed, like a slick. If such tools are kept *really* sharp (i.e., if you can, literally, shave with them), when they are moved the mass of the iron imparts considerable momentum (and power) to them, while the user has maximum control, using both hands.
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Note added at 8 days (2003-11-20 14:04:24 GMT) Post-grading
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Perhaps a moderator can modify the glossary entry:
bisaiguë > mortising axe or twibill (twybill)
?
| | | Grading comment | Sorry to not answer earlier, bit of a rush on. Thanks indeed. Never would have thought of it. I've added a note to my additional query to explain my choice. |
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peer agreement (net): +2