whetstone

Meaning

Noun

1. A sharpening stone; a hard stone or piece of synthetically bonded hard minerals that has been formed with at least one flat surface, used to sharpen or hone an edged tool.
2. (figuratively) A stimulant.
3. (alt-of) Alternative letter-case form of Whetstone (“benchmark”).

Verb

To sharpen with a whetstone.

Synonyms

grindstone

hone

sharpening stone

oilstone

sharpener

burr

knife sharpener

knives

necessity

need

oiler

file

polish

🇵🇱

pumice stone

rubber

emery stone

corner

smooth

grinding stone

knife grinder

snakestone

scythe-whetstone

rubstone

razor-strop

abrading stone

blade grinder

sickle grinder

whet-slate

whet slate

whetstone slate

knife stone

knife-grinder

Translations

Schleifstein

Wetzstein

cote

slijpsteen

pierre à aiguiser

piedra de afilar

cos

ακόνι

wetsteen

meule à aiguiser

σμιρίλιο

meule

aiguisoir

queux

🧑‍🍳

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈwɛtˌstoʊn/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: whestone

Inherited from Old English: hwetstān

In summary

From Middle English whestone, whetston, whetesston, from Old English hwetstān, from Proto-West Germanic *hwattjastain (“whetstone”). Equivalent to whet (“to sharpen”) + stone.