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

There were no signs of a helmet or an ice ax, a lethal-looking tool winter mountaineers use to plant themselves in the snow and to stop themselves if they start to fall.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2023

She put on microspikes and took out her ice ax to navigate the icy route.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 17, 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

He went on, however, to acclaim as an inventor of game-changing climbing gear, including the first all-steel ice ax.

From Washington Post ● Dec. 8, 2020

Late in the day on the north face of the Thumb, I felt the glue disintegrate with a swing of an ice ax.

From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer