The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Machete \Ma*che"te\ (m[.a]*sh[e^]t"[-e]; Sp.
   m[.a]*ch[=a]"t[asl]), n. [Sp.]
   A large heavy knife resembling a broadsword, often two or
   three feet in length, -- used by the inhabitants of Spanish
   America as a hatchet to cut their way through thickets, and
   for various other purposes. --J. Stevens.

   Syn: matchet.
        [1913 Webster] Machiavelian

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

matchet \matchet\ n.
   a large heavy knife used in Central and South America as a
   weapon or for cutting vegetation; usually called machete.

   Syn: machete, panga.
        [WordNet 1.5]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

machete
    n 1: a large heavy knife used in Central and South America as a
         weapon or for cutting vegetation [syn: machete,
         matchet, panga]