Edge tool

1577, Holinshed’s Chronicles, London: John Hunne, Volume 2, “Of the Marueyles of Englande,” Chapter 18, There is a Well […] in Wales, which is sayde to double or trible, the force of any edge toole that is quenched in the same.

c. 1613, Nathan Field, John Fletcher and Philip Massinger, The Honest Man’s Fortune, Act II, Scene 1, in Comedies and tragedies written by Francis Beaumont and Iohn Fletcher, London: Humphrey Robinson, 1647, I am glad he’s gon, for I do not love to see a sword drawn in the hand of a man that lookes so furious, ther’s no jesting with edge tooles, how say you Captaine?

Your hard usage has sharpen’d your Nephew’s wits, therefore beware, don’t play with edge-tools—you’ll only cut your fingers.

“[…] I told you she took every thing, herself included, to a grindstone, and sharpened it. She is an edge-tool, and requires great care in dealing with. […]”

[…] children are not given their true name during the Fallows, and no Deeds are sung, nor swords nor edge-tools sharpened, nor oaths sworn.