Gouge
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Gouge refers to one of several types of cutting tools, in addition to its meaning as a verb (the action of cutting or scooping with or as with a gouge) and its slang meaning (to cheat, defraud, swindle or extort) and, rarely, as a noun meaning a swindler (gouger).
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In Antiquity
In archeology, a gouge is a bifacial or unifacial stone tool with a chisel-like working edge used for woodworking purposes; some may also have been used to remove marrow from bones. Gouges are generally triangular in shape, with the working edge—characteristically steep-angled—appearing at the wide base of the triangle. The opposite edge, at the point of the triangle, was the hafted end; the tool itself was generally hafted at right angles to the handle.
Modern tools
A modern gouge is a tool similar to a chisel except its blade edge is not flat, but instead is curved or angled in cross-section. The modern version is generally hafted inline, the blade and handle typically having the same long axis. If the angle of the plane of the blade is on the outer surface of the curve the gouge is called an 'incannel' gouge, otherwise it is known as an 'outcannel' gouge. Gouges with angled rather than curved blades are often called 'V-gouges' or 'vee-parting tools'. Variations include 'crank-neck' gouges, 'spoon-bent' gouges, etc.
In martial arts
In martial arts or other hand-to-hand combat application, a gouge or gouging refers to pulling or pressing certain sensitive areas on the opponent's body, typically using the fingers, but also sometimes with other bodyparts or instruments. Gouging can be accidental, or it can be used as a potent self-defense technique. The most typical types of gouging are fish-hooking and eye-gouging.
In Slang
In United States Military Slang, gouge is unofficial, unsanctioned, unreviewed, yet very useful shorthand for the things most useful to know to accomplish a task. Gouge may be an acronym for each major task on a checklist, an outline for a training course, a list of the three things that a given inspector is looking to find a discrepancy, or simply a secret to success. Gouge is peer-to-peer collective wisdom, as opposed to sanctioned work instructions. To see a live example of US Navy Gouge, go to http://www.navygouge.com or http://www.bryanweatherup.com/gouge. Currently, the term Gouge is used many times a day by US Military Aviators. Gouge is associated with aviator training and then Academy and general officer training; the word is seldom if ever used aboard ship.