English Explanatory Dictionary

pickaxe

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A heavy iron tool with a wooden handle; one end of the head is pointed, the other has a chisel edge.
verb
  1. To use a pickaxe.

Pronunciation

/ˈpɪkˌæks/ En-us-pickaxe.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-pickaxe.wav

Word forms

pickaxe pickaxes pickax pick-axe pickaxing pickaxed

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English pykeaxe, pecaxe, pyke exe (“pickaxe”), an alteration (due to folk etymology association with pick and axe) of Middle English pikeyse, pikeys, pykois, from Anglo-Norman *pikeis, Old French picois, pecois, from Latin picōsa (“pickaxe”), from picca, ultimately from Proto-West Germanic *pīk (“sharp point, pike”). Doublet of pique and pike.

Derived words

pickaxer
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