Waz'at?

(Those Bud guys have a lot to answer for!)

To help with your surfing pleasure I have produced this fine glossary of terms to further help one understand the finer points of stickmaking.

Ambulist   Commonly given term for a stick collector
Balance   How a stick feels in the hand, it should feel light and easy to use, with the head not too top heavy.
Cane   Generic term used mainly in America meaning any type of stick.
Coppice   An ancient method of harvesting wood, still used widely in the UK. Consists of cutting trees back to ground level every 8-12 years, this encourages new growth ideal for the manufacture of many wooden implements. Hurdles, gates, rakes and of course walkingsticks.
Cleek   A Cleek is a Crook only it's used on the leg of the animal, usually young or fragile animals.
Cross-head   Refers to sticks shaped like an upside down 'L', usually naturally formed (root stock).
Diamond Willow   This is the American equivalent of the "Twisty", much sort after, the willow is contorted by diamond shape lesions caused by a fungal growth.
Dipping Hook   Neck crook designed to push the sheep's head under in the dipping bath and then lift it clear.
Gadget Stick   Term used for a bewildering array of canes that had some form of hidden gadget. For example a pipe, binoculars, some form of beverage, horse measuring device, you name it ,yes there was a bike!
Hockey   The word "hockey" is most likely derived from the French word "hoquet" , which means "shepherds crook", referring to the shape of the hockey stick.
Fancy   Shepherd's crook with carved decoration, much of my work is classed as fancy, fancy that!
Ferrule   The fitting at the bottom of a stick to reduce wear and prevent slipping. Traditional British types are a brass cup with a steel tip, although they can be made from a variety of materials.
Fit up   Term for a shank that has been finished and fitted with ferrule before the handle is mounted.
Flaming   Lightly scorching a stick to give it colour, works particularly well with Hazel with the bark removed.
Friendship Cane   A stick made up of carved blocks ( approx 2 inch cubes) threaded onto a central dowel.
Fuming   The colouring of a stick by using ammonia fumes, again good on Hazel and Holly with the bark removed.
Heel   The point of the handle that turns from horizontal to vertical in the direction of the shank. Known by some as a "square curve" to describe the look of this transition.
Knob-Kerri   A short knob stick used as a weapon.
Leg Cleek   A narrow mouthed crook used to catch lambs and some wildfowl (chickens) by the leg.
Mouth   The gap between the shank and the inside of the nose at its narrowest point.
Nose   The front end of the crook, the part that tapers down to sometimes finish in a thistle.
Pyecombe   A village, not a million miles from my birthplace, famous for its' Pyecombe crook. An iron leg cleek.
Rhabdopholist   A collector of staffs of office.
Scrumping Sticks   Scrumping, a favourite sport amongst young boys, involved stealing the fruit (usually apples) from someone's orchard, without being caught. The stick was hooked to aid the picking of the fruit.
Shank   The part that extends between handle and floor.
Shepherds' Crook   The hooked stick used by shepherds to catch sheep, regional shapes vary because of the differing breeds and their neck sizes.
Shillelagh   Commonly known as a hammer-shaped club made of blackthorn. There are however differing opinions to it's origin. Theo Fossel refers to it as an Oak throwing stick, but I prefer this description found on the ASA the other day. The wooden War Staff of the Celts, believed by the Druids to deliver the wrath of the forest gods when wielded by the worthy.
Shooting Stick   A stick which the handle splits in two to make a reasonable seat whilst one is pursuing ones' sport.
Standard (British)   There is a British Standard (kite mark) that covers walkingsticks made for the National Health Service. It is BS EN 1985. 1999 Walking Aids - General Requirements and Test Methods Partially Supersedes BS 4997: 1991, BS 5181:1975 and BS 5205: 1990; (N)
Suigi   The process of playing a naked flame over the shank to highlight the grain, very effective on Hazel.
Sword Sticks   A stick with a sword in it!
Thistle Spudder   Stick that terminates with a spade like ferrule for removing weeds.
Thumbstick   A stick with (commonly) a "V" top into which the thumb is placed.
Tipple Stick   This is the most common of the gadget sticks to survive the decline of walkingsticks. Still being made today, the stick contains a glass phial of your favourite tipple, some of the older ones used to have cups too.
"Twisty" or Twisted stick   A well sort after stick by many makers, the shank is contorted by Honeysuckle growing around it. A good looking stick but care should be taken as some are dead in places, causing the stick to break in use.
Wading Staff   Used by fly fishermen, the staff is fitted with a non-slip ferrule, a lanyard for carrying and has a weighted bottom to help the staff stay in place in the river.
Washer stick   A stick made from many washers (or slices) threaded over a central core.