What Is a Mattock Maker?

Definition of mattock

: a digging and grubbing tool with features of an adze and an ax or pick.

What is a mattock used for?

A mattock /ˈmætək/ is a hand tool used for digging, prying, and chopping. Similar to the pickaxe, it has a long handle and a stout head which combines either a vertical axe blade with a horizontal adze (cutter mattock), or a pick and an adze (pick mattock).

Why is it called a mattock?

The mattock is a hand tool that is often mistaken for a pickaxe. It is used for digging and chopping. Mattocks are very similar to what is called a Polaski in America. This tool gets its name from Edward Polaski, the forest ranger who developed it in the early 1900's.