The handle of an axe or hatchet; the shaft by which an axe is held and swung.
From Old English 'hielfe' or 'hilfe,' related to Old High German 'hilva.' The word is ancient and appears in Germanic languages with similar form and meaning, suggesting roots in Indo-European terms for 'handle' or 'hold.'
The phrase 'to axe oneself by the helve' was once used to mean shooting yourself in the foot—the helve (handle) was so important that losing it meant losing control of the tool entirely.
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