Editing Pickaxe (section)

{{Short description|T-shaped hand tool used for prying or hand-to-hand combat}}
{{Redirect|Pickhandle|the fish|Pickhandle barracuda}}
{{For|the book|Programming Ruby}}
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{{Infobox tool
|name=Pickaxe
|image=Pickaxe.jpg
|caption=Pickaxe on the ground
|other_name=Pick, pickax
|classification=Digging tool
|types=Railroad pick, miner's pick
|used_with=
|related=[[Mattock]]
}}
[[File:Keilhaue Bergmann Hammer VEB - BKW - GLÜCKAUF -Träger des Vaterländischen VO in Gold - Betrieb im VE BKK Senftenberg - Lupus in Saxonia Bild 00017.jpg|thumb|Ceremony hammer of a miner VEB Kombinat [[Senftenberg]] ([[East Germany|GDR]]) - with honorary uniform]]

A '''pickaxe''', '''pick-axe''', or '''pick''' is a generally T-shaped [[hand tool]] used for [[Leverage (mechanics)|prying]].  Its head is typically metal, attached perpendicularly to a longer handle, traditionally made of wood, occasionally metal, and increasingly fiberglass.

A standard pickaxe, similar to a "[[mattock|pick mattock]]", has a pointed end on one side of its head and a broad flat "axe" blade opposite.  A gradual curve characteristically spans the length of the head.  The next most common configuration features two spikes, one slightly longer than the other.

The pointed end is used both for breaking and prying, the axe for hoeing, skimming, and chopping through roots. 

Developed as [[agricultural]] tools in [[prehistoric]] times, picks have evolved into other tools such as the [[plough]] and the mattock. They also have been used in general construction and [[traditional mining|mining]], and adapted to [[warfare]].