Etymology Map
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Machete

3 stages from Spanish to English.

Today it means a broad heavy knife used as a tool and weapon

Where does the word "machete" come from? It comes from Spanish macho, passing through Spanish before entering English (1590s).

1
Stage 1 of 3
macho
Spanish · medieval
"sledgehammer"
a sledgehammer, from Latin 'marculus', small hammer
2
Stage 2 of 3
machete
Spanish · 1500s
"cutting blade"
'little hammer', the cane-cutter's blade of the Spanish Caribbean sugar plantations
3
Stage 3 of 3
machete
English · 1590s
"large cutting knife"
used in accounts of Spanish America
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Read the full story

Machete’s story begins in Spanish: macho meant “sledgehammer.” A sledgehammer, from Latin 'marculus', small hammer. Within Spanish, it grew into machete by 1500s. 'little hammer', the cane-cutter's blade of the Spanish Caribbean sugar plantations. It reached English by 1590s as machete. Used in accounts of Spanish America. Today, machete means a broad heavy knife used as a tool and weapon.