CHIRURGEON

chirurgeon, one whose profession it is to cure disease by operating with the hand. the word in its original form is now obsolete. it derives from the mid. eng. _cirurgien_ or _sirurgien_, through the fr. from the gr. [greek: cheirourgos], one who operates with the hand (from [greek: cheir], hand, [greek: ergon], work); from the early form is derived the modern word "surgeon." "chirurgeon" is a 16th century reversion to the greek origin. (see surgery.) chisel (from the o. fr. _cisel_, modern _ciseau_, late lat. _cisellum_, a cutting tool, from _caedere_, to cut), a sharp-edged tool for cutting metal, wood or stone. there are numerous varieties of chisels used in different trades; the carpenter's chisel is wooden-handled with a straight edge, transverse to the axis and bevelled on one side; stone masons' chisels are bevelled on both sides, and others have oblique, concave or convex edges. a chisel with a semicircular blade is called a "gouge." the tool is worked either by hand-pressure or by blows from a hammer or mallet. the "cold chisel" has a steel edge, highly tempered to cut unheated metal. (see tool.)