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

“It was such an amazing experience — going up a heavily glaciated peak, having to use a rope, crampons and an ice ax to get to this awesome viewpoint and look down at other peaks.“

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 18, 2023

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

At 24,000 feet, I could manage only seven or eight blows of my ice ax before having to pause for more than a minute to catch my breath.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer