whetstone

[ hwet-stohn, wet- ]

noun

1. a stone for sharpening cutlery or tools by friction.
2. anything that sharpens:

   a whetstone for dull wits.

whetstone

/ ˈwɛtˌstəʊn /

noun

1. a stone used for sharpening edged tools, knives, etc
2. something that sharpens

Word History and Origins

Origin of whetstone¹

before 900; Middle English whetston, Old English hwetstān. See whet, stone

Example Sentences

Whatever knife you choose, buy a honing rod, sharpening steel or whetstone.

From Washington Times

Meyers' "Late Show" is an extension of his experience hosting "Weekend Update," but it's fair to say that its harder edge was sharpened on the "Daily Show" whetstone.

From Salon

Over the past two million years huge sheets of ice ground the landscape of central Illinois to a whetstone flatness.

From Scientific American

Activities that demand focus and industry are the whetstone to keeping cognition sharp, Merrill says.

From Washington Post

Having said that, if there is an episode equivalent to a whetstone against which Stewart honed his sophomore season approach, it may be the first season's penultimate episode about, yes, the media.

From Salon