Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A fine-grained whetstone lubricated with oil, used for fine sharpening.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • To rub, or sharpen or polish by rubbing, on an oilstone.
  • noun A slab of fine-grained stone used for imparting a keen edge to tools, and so called because oil is used for lubricating its rubbing-surface. Fine oilstones are often made of novaculite, a fine-grained variety of quartz.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A variety of hone slate, or whetstone, used for whetting tools when lubricated with oil.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A type of stone used for sharpening objects such as knives and razorblades.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a whetstone for use with oil

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

oil +‎ stone

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word oilstone.

Examples

  • ‘Sol Chickerel?’ said the man addressed, as he touched his plane-iron upon the oilstone.

    The Hand of Ethelberta 2006

  • The reciprocating movement of the tool on the oilstone or vice versa is continued until the burr is removed and the cutting edge has a bright appearance.

    2. Splitting and Carving Tools Fritz Dienemann 1993

  • A specially shaped oilstone is required for sharpening the tubes.

    4. Tool Maintenance Gnter Hanisch 1993

  • Thereby the oilstone is moved by hand in a circular motion on the tool cutting edge.

    4. Tool Maintenance Gnter Hanisch 1993

  • If possible, the oilstone should have a fine grain.

    4. Tool Maintenance Gnter Hanisch 1993

  • The burr produced is removed by alternately stoning the two bevels of the cutting edge with circulating movements of a wetted oilstone.

    2. Splitting and Carving Tools Fritz Dienemann 1993

  • In doing so, the scraper has to be drawn over the oilstone from either side of the cutting edge alternately and in an inclined position till the burr - which this way is bent for several times - is neatly removed.

    2. Tools for scraping Frank Wenghfer 1990

  • An oilstone or water lubricated stone may then be used to sharpen the cutting edge.

    Chapter 5 1982

  • And he got that whet rock, an oilstone, and sharpened his knife just like a razor.

    Oral History Interview with Geddes Elam Dodson, May 26, 1980. Interview H-0240. Southern Oral History Program Collection (#4007) 1980

  • Instead of using the oilstone an easier, tho less perfect, way to flatten out the burr on the edges is to lay the scraper flat on the bench near the edge.

    Handwork in Wood William Noyes

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • "'Poll, my dear, there are two coarse and two very fine oilstones on the bottom shelf of the medicine chest.'"

    --Patrick O'Brian, The Hundred Days, 56

    March 20, 2008