grindstone
砥石
解説 Definition
刃物を研いだり磨いたりするために使う平たい石。
A grindstone is a stone tool used for sharpening or shaping metal objects such as knives or blades. Traditionally, it is a round stone that turns while something is pressed against it. The word can also appear in idioms, but its basic meaning is a sharpening stone.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
grind + stone で「削るための石」と分けると覚えやすい。grind は coffee grinder や grind coffee で「ガリガリ砕く・すり減らす」の感覚があるので、刃物をこすって研ぐ場面が浮かぶ。stone はもちろん石。knife, blade, scissors などを相手にして表面で少しずつ削って鋭くする道具だと結びつけると定着しやすい。似た語に whetstone もあるが、grindstone は「研ぐ・削る動作」が前面に出る語として押さえると残りやすい。
This word is easy if you split it: `grind + stone`. `Grind` gives the idea of rubbing or crushing little by little, so you can picture a blade against a stone. Compare it with `whetstone`, but remember that `grindstone` strongly suggests the grinding action itself.
例文
The blacksmith sharpened his blade on the grindstone until it gleamed.
鍛冶屋は刃が輝くまで砥石で研いだ。
My grandfather kept an old grindstone in his workshop for sharpening tools.
祖父は道具を研ぐために古い砥石を作業場に置いていた。
She wet the grindstone before sharpening the kitchen knife.
彼女は包丁を研ぐ前に砥石をぬらした。
grindstone の類義語・関連語
grindstone の語源・成り立ち Etymology
古英語 grindan「すり砕く・研ぐ」と stone が結びついた語で、さらにゲルマン祖語 *grindanan にさかのぼります。関連語に grind, grinder があり、「こすって削る石」と考えると砥石の意味が腑に落ちます。
Grindstone is a native English compound of grind and stone. Grind comes from Old English grindan, "to rub, crush, or scrape," from an older Germanic root also seen in grinder. The meaning is very direct: a stone used for grinding or sharpening.
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