Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - axe

n. & v. (US ax) --n. 1 a chopping-tool, usu. of iron with a steel edge and wooden handle. 2 the drastic cutting or elimination of expenditure, staff, etc. --v.tr. (axing) 1 cut (esp. costs or services) drastically. 2 remove or dismiss. Phrases and idioms axe-breaker a hard-wooded Australian tree. an axe to grind private ends to serve. Etymology: OE {aelig}x f. Gmc