What does chiselling mean?
Chiselling refers to the act of cutting, shaping, or carving a hard material such as stone, wood, or marble with a chisel, a tool with a sharp bevelled edge driven by hand or mallet. It is central to sculpture, stonemasonry, and fine woodworking, where patient, controlled strokes gradually reveal a form hidden within the raw material. The word can also describe the finished quality of workmanship, as in finely chiselled detail. In an entirely separate informal sense, especially in North American usage, to chisel means to cheat or swindle, so chiselling can denote sharp or underhand dealing as well as honest craftsmanship. Spelling varies by region: British English doubles the final consonant (chiselling), while American English uses a single L (chiseling). The word derives from the chisel itself, which entered English via Old French from Latin roots meaning 'to cut', making it a vivid reminder that language, like stone, is shaped over time by many hands.
The act or process of cutting, shaping, or carving a hard material with a chisel; also, work produced or characterized by such carving.
"The delicate chiselling on the cathedral doorway took craftsmen decades to complete."
Usually uncountable. Chiefly British spelling; American English prefers 'chiseling'.
Present participle of chisel: cutting or carving with a chisel; informally, cheating or swindling someone.
"She was chiselling away at the block of oak, shaping the figure's flowing robes."
The figurative sense of cheating is informal and negative in connotation.
Every time you write 'chiselling' with two Ls, you're spelling it like a Brit — Americans shave off one L and make it 'chiseling'.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chiselling
The verb chisel entered English in the early 15th century from Old French ciseler, meaning to cut or carve with a chisel, which itself traces back through Late Latin caesellare to Latin caedere, 'to cut'. Chiselling is simply its present participle and verbal noun. The same Latin root caedere gives English a family of cutting-related words, including incise, concise, decide, and caesura.
Related word forms
How chiselling is actually used
'Chiselling' is chiefly the British English spelling, with a double L; American English typically writes 'chiseling'. As a noun it is usually uncountable. The figurative sense referring to dishonest dealing is informal and carries a clearly negative connotation, whereas the carving sense is neutral and often admiring when describing skilled craftsmanship.