Definition of "hatchet man" in English

Noun

1. A male professional killer or gunman.

   • The crime lord dispatched his favorite hatchet man to make sure the witness would not testify.

2. A male hatchet-wielding participant in a Chinese-American tong war.

3. A male who carries out brutal and unpleasant duties on behalf of another, such as firing dead wood employees.

   • After the layoffs, he gained a reputation as a hatchet man and ended up eating lunches alone.