The Clue
Awl or adz (4 letter answer)
The Answer
TOOL
Tags
Notes
The answer TOOL is seen frequently, appearing about once every 120 puzzles.
Related Clues
Adze, for one
Awl, for one
Drill, for one
Dupe
Implement
Instrument
Pawn
Stooge
Awl or adze
Ax or awl
Burin or dibble
Burin or gimlet
Bushwhacker, e.g.
Cat's-paw
Chisel or file
Chisel or gouge
Dibble or burin
Dibble, e.g.
Die, e.g.
Drive (along)
File, e.g.
Gouge or chisel
Hammer or saw
Hammer or sickle
Hammer or tongs
Item in a chest
Jimmy, e.g.
Kit article
Kit item
Means to an end
Neolith or paleolith
Saw, e.g.
Saw or file
Saw or hammer
Screwdriver, e.g.
Shed item
Useful item
Work leather
Not the real decision-maker
"Man is a ___-using animal": Thomas Carlyle
Definition
TOOL as a noun:
1. an implement used in the practice of a vocation
2. (instrument, tool) = the means whereby some act is accomplished; "my greed was the instrument of my destruction"; "science has given us new tools to fight disease"
3. (creature, tool, puppet) = a person who is controlled by others and is used to perform unpleasant or dishonest tasks for someone else
4. (cock, prick, dick, shaft, pecker, peter, tool, putz) = obscene terms for penis
TOOL as a verb:
1. drive; "The convertible tooled down the street"
2. (joyride, tool, tool around) = ride in a car with no particular goal and just for the pleasure of it; "We tooled down the street"
3. furnish with tools
4. work with a tool