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DictionarywhetstoneSharpening stone
noun

whetstone

WET-stohn/ˈwetstəʊn/

A stone used to sharpen blades or tools.

She sharpens her kitchen knife on a whetstone before chopping vegetables.

Two hands draw the edge of a plain kitchen knife across a rectangular whetstone resting securely on a low holder, blade at a shallow angle and fingers behind its edge; small water sheen, no sparks or labels.
Etymology
whetOld Englishto sharpen
+stoneOld Englishstone

Whet means sharpening an edge by rubbing it on stone. The compound names the stone by its job: providing the friction that sharpens knives or tools.

In context

Storytime Haven388:47
as carefully as he would have sharpened a razor on a whetstone. After that he stropped it on the tough leathern strap
📖 Whosoever Shall Offend ✨ by F. Marion Crawford

More examples

  • He carries a small whetstone to sharpen his pocketknife.
  • These whetstones have coarse and fine sides for sharpening chisels.
  • Keep the blade at a steady angle against the whetstone.

Forms

whetstone · whetstones

whet verb — To sharpen an edge by rubbing.

Similar words

hone
Another name for a sharpening stone, especially a fine-grained one.
grindstone
Usually a rotating abrasive wheel rather than a handheld stone.