• heavy axe with a broad edge used in the past as offensive weapon; (slang) sharp-tongued hostile and pushy woman a battle-axe is a large axe that used to be used as a weapon. if you call a middle-aged or older woman a battle-axe, you mean that you think she is very difficult and unpleasant. heavy axe with a broad edge used in the past as offensive weapon; (slang) sharp-tongued hostile and pushy woman