Having a long, narrow face that resembles the shape of a hatchet blade; appearing gaunt or severe in facial features.
Compound of 'hatchet' (from Old French 'hachette,' small axe) + 'faced.' The comparison became common in the 19th century as writers sought vivid ways to describe harsh facial features.
Calling someone 'hatchet-faced' is a perfect example of how English metaphors reveal cultural values—we compare unattractive faces to weapons, treating appearance as something sharp and threatening.
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