piolet

noun

pi·​o·​let

¦pēə¦lā

plural -s

: a two-headed ice ax used in mountaineering (as in Switzerland)

Word History

Etymology

French, from French dialect (Valais canton, Switzerland & Piedmont), diminutive of piola small ax, from (assumed) Middle French dialect, from Old Provençal, diminutive of apcha, abcha battle-ax, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German hāppa sickle, pruning knife

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