Definition
A hand-held cutting tool made of hardened, tempered steel, used to cut, shear, or chip metal that is at room temperature. The tool has a sharpened cutting edge at one end and a flat striking head at the other, and is driven by blows from a hammer.
Plain English
A tough steel tool you hit with a hammer to cut or chip cold metal. One end has a sharp edge that bites into the metal; the other end is the flat part you strike.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft maintenance and shop work, especially when a text describes cutting, chipping, or removing metal by hand.
Derivation
Called 'cold' because it cuts metal at normal temperature, unlike a hot chisel used by blacksmiths to cut metal that has been heated until soft. The 'cold' distinguishes the tool, not its temperature.
Why Pilots Care
Allows mechanics to remove seized fasteners or cut metal quickly without power tools, supporting continued airworthiness during inspections and repairs.
Intuition Check
Cold does not mean the tool is cold to the touch. It means the metal being cut is not heated before the chisel is used.
Example Sentence 1
The mechanic used a cold chisel and a ball-peen hammer to remove the damaged rivet from the wing skin.
Example Sentence 2
Before replacing the bolt, the technician cut through the corroded nut with a cold chisel.