1. A man whose job it is to execute unpleasant tasks for a superior
   "The CEO sent his hatchet man to deliver the news of the layoffs"
    
2. A male professional killer
   "The mob boss sent his hatchet man to deal with the problem";
   - iceman

Derived forms: hatchet men

Type of: adult male, bozo [N. Amer, informal], cat [N. Amer, informal], chappie [Brit, informal], enforcer, geezer [Brit, informal], guy [informal], hombre [N. Amer, informal], liquidator, man, manslayer [archaic], murderer, sod [informal]

Encyclopedia: Hatchet man