cleaver

Etymology

From cleave + -er; compare Middle English clevere.

noun

1. A squarish, heavy knife used by butchers for hacking through bones, etc.
   Concurrently with Flay's visualization of the cleaver falling—the cleaver fell. 1946, Mervyn Peake, Titus Groan
2. (music, Bahamas) A type of clave, or rhythm stick, a concussive musical instrument used in traditional Bahamian music.
3. (figurative) The act of eliminating someone or something, especially when done by someone with a history of other eliminations; a dismissal, rejection, or removal.
   Conte has broken the mould further with the suggestion he might escape the Abramovich cleaver, becoming the first of his line to leave by his own volition. May 13, 2017, Barney Ronay, “Antonio Conte’s brilliance has turned Chelsea’s pop-up team into champions”, in the Guardian
4. (rowing) A type of oar blade with an asymmetric, mostly rectangular shape that resembles a cleaving knife.