carver

A carver is a person who creates carvings or a tool used in carving. The term can refer to craftsmen who shape materials by removing portions, such as wood, stone, or ice, as well as to utensils used for cutting and decorating foods.

In crafts, woodcarvers and stone carvers produce sculptures, reliefs, or decorative items. Ice carvers create sculptures for events, and fruit and vegetable carvers fashion intricate garnishes and centerpieces. Common tools include knives for carving, gouges, chisels, and mallets, used in different carving traditions around the world.

In culinary settings, a carver is the person who slices meat at a table, often aided by a carving knife (meat carver) and a fork. This use distinguishes between the craft of carving and the specific carving tool used at meals.

Etymology and names: Carver is an English surname derived from the occupation of carving, and it appears in various regions. Notable individuals with the surname include George Washington Carver (1864–1943), an American agricultural scientist and educator. Place names in the United States, such as Carver County, Minnesota, and Carver, Massachusetts, reflect the surname’s historical distribution.