ice ax

American  

noun

1. a mountaineering tool combining an adzlike blade and a pick on the head of a long wooden handle, with a spike on the end, used for cutting into ice and for support on icy surfaces.

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Etymology

Origin of ice ax

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

ice ax

In addition to clothing that protects against the wind and cold, anyone attempting to climb steep terrain covered in snow and ice should have mountaineering boots, heavy metal crampons and an ice ax.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 10, 2026

From hiking a few miles to learning how to use an ice ax and glissade down a mountain, we trained and grew stronger together to ultimately reach the summit.

From Seattle Times ● May 20, 2022

But it won’t be an issue anymore for Richards, who says the episode on Dhaulagiri made him realize it’s time to hang up his ice ax.

From New York Times ● Jul. 11, 2021

In winter, you can sign up for a ski mountaineering clinic, wielding your ice ax and fixing rope to climb up the terrain, then skiing down in an exhilarating rush of “job well done.”

From Washington Post ● Nov. 27, 2019

They typically have vertical or even overhanging passages that demand considerable expertise with ice ax and crampons.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer