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pick·axe or pick·ax

(pĭkăks′)

A pick, especially with one end of the head pointed and the other end with a chisel edge for cutting through roots.

v. pick·axed, pick·ax·ing, pick·ax·es

v.intr.

To use a pickaxe.

v.tr.

To use a pickaxe on.

[Middle English picax, alteration (influenced by ax, axe) of picas, from Old French picois (from pic, pick) and from Medieval Latin pīcōsa, both probably from Latin pīcus, woodpecker.]

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pickaxe

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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