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   Hatch·et man

   /ˈhaCHət ˌman/

   

   noun

   • 1. a person employed to carry out controversial or disagreeable tasks, such as the dismissal of a number of people from employment: informal "he sent over his ace hatchet man to intimidate the business leaders"
   • ▪ a person who writes fierce attacks on others or their work: informal "there was the hit piece by one of the finest hatchet men in Boston sports media"

   Word Origin mid 17th century (denoting a person who works or is armed with an axe or hatchet): used from the late 19th century, originally in the US, to denote a hired Chinese assassin. Modern senses date from the 1930s.

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