orange stick

noun

1. a slender, rounded stick, originally of orangewood, having tapered ends and used in manicuring, especially to push back the cuticles or clean the fingernails.

orange stick

noun

1. a small stick used to clean the fingernails and cuticles, having one pointed and one rounded end

Word History and Origins

Origin of orange stick¹

An Americanism dating back to 1910–15

Example Sentences

“When I didn’t want to be noticed, I would use my orange stick with black tape on it,” Cordingley said, “ … versus a rainbow stick with the trans tape color pattern on it.”

From Seattle Times

After taking everything off, the gel polish should be soft enough to scrape off with an orange stick — or, if you must, a metal scraping tool.

From Los Angeles Times

Zooey suddenly turned around, opened the medicine cabinet, replaced his nail file, and took down a remarkably stubby-looking orange stick.

From Literature

“Who’s been eating my orange stick?” he said.

From Literature

With his wrist, he briefly blotted his perspiring upper lip, and then he began to use the orange stick to push back his cuticles.

From Literature