alpenstock

[ al-puh n-stok ]

/ ˈæl pənˌstɒk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR alpenstock ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a strong staff with an iron point, used by mountain climbers.

Nearby words

alp, alpaca, alpena, alpenglow, alpenhorn, alpenstock, alpers' disease, alpes-de-haute provence, alpes-de-haute-provence, alpes-maritimes, alpestrine

Origin of alpenstock

1820–30; < German, equivalent to Alpen Alps + Stock staff

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for alpenstock

The pick, and the long stick he used as an alpenstock, he balanced horizontally after the manner of a rope-walker.
Smoke Bellew|Jack London
Stand up as I do, and hold your alpenstock behind you like this.
The Crystal Hunters|George Manville Fenn
He poked his alpenstock, lance-fashion, into Winterbourne's bench and tried to crack the lump of sugar with his teeth.
Daisy Miller|Henry James
Winterbourne presently released the child, who departed, dragging his alpenstock along the path.
Daisy Miller|Henry James

There are artisans all about Switzerland whose trade it is to burn these things upon the alpenstock of the tourist.
A Tramp Abroad, Complete|Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)

British Dictionary definitions for alpenstock

alpenstock

/ (ˈælpənˌstɒk) /

noun

an early form of ice axe, consisting of a stout stick with an iron tip and sometimes having a pick and adze at the head, formerly used by mountain climbers

Word Origin for alpenstock

C19: from German, from Alpen Alps + Stock stick 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012