devil's-walking-stick: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowInformal, Regional
Quick answer
What does “devil's-walking-stick” mean?
A tall, thorny shrub or small tree native to eastern North America, known for its large compound leaves and sharp prickles on the stems.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A tall, thorny shrub or small tree native to eastern North America, known for its large compound leaves and sharp prickles on the stems.
This term also functions as a colorful name for the Hercules' club or prickly ash. In some contexts, it can metaphorically refer to any particularly thorny or problematic walking aid.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The plant is native to North America, so the term is primarily American. In British English, the term is virtually unknown and would likely be considered an exoticism. A British speaker encountering the plant would need an explanation.
Connotations
American: Evokes a specific, often troublesome, native plant. British: Likely unknown or perceived as a quaint or dramatic folk name.
Frequency
Extremely rare in British English. Low and regional within American English, found mostly in the plant's native range or in gardening/nature contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “devil's-walking-stick” in a Sentence
The [noun phrase] looked like a devil's-walking-stick.We call this plant a devil's-walking-stick.Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Almost never used.
Academic
Used only in specific botanical or horticultural texts as a common name.
Everyday
Rare, used in informal conversation, typically among gardeners, hikers, or nature enthusiasts in the eastern US.
Technical
Used occasionally in horticulture and ecology alongside the scientific name.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “devil's-walking-stick”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “devil's-walking-stick”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “devil's-walking-stick”
- Incorrect hyphenation: 'devils walking stick'.
- Using it as a general term for any thorny plant instead of the specific Aralia spinosa.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's a regional/common name for a specific plant (Aralia spinosa). It is not part of core vocabulary.
Only if you are using it as a quoted common name. In formal botanical contexts, the Latin name Aralia spinosa is preferred.
No, the name is metaphorical, highlighting its tall, straight, but painfully thorny stems, which would make it useless as an actual walking aid.
'Devil's club' (Oplopanax horridus) is a different, similarly prickly plant found in the Pacific Northwest. 'Devil's-walking-stick' is native to the eastern and south-central US.
A tall, thorny shrub or small tree native to eastern North America, known for its large compound leaves and sharp prickles on the stems.
Devil's-walking-stick: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdev.əlz ˈwɔː.kɪŋ ˌstɪk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈdev.əlz ˈwɑː.kɪŋ ˌstɪk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a walking stick so nasty and prickly that only the devil himself would use it.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIFFICULTY/PAIN IS A DEVIL'S INSTRUMENT (the plant is metaphorically a tool belonging to the devil, implying its harmful nature).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'devil's-walking-stick' primarily?