picul-stick

A farmer carries two baskets of rice with a picul-stick across his shoulders.

Definition

Noun: A "picul-stick" is a carrying pole, typically made of bamboo or wood, used especially in East Asian cultures to balance and transport loads over the shoulder. It is designed with a central notch or hook to hold a picul (a traditional unit of weight) or other goods.

Usage Examples

• (The farmer used the carrying pole to transport heavy loads symmetrically.)
• (The pole was essential for manual transport in trade.)

Advanced Usage

• "to shoulder the picul-stick": to take on a heavy burden or responsibility.
  • After the manager's resignation, she had to shoulder the picul-stick of leading the entire project.
    (She had to bear a significant workload or duty.)
• "to carry with a picul-stick": to transport goods in a balanced manner, often implying physical endurance.
  • The workers carried bricks with a picul-stick, moving them efficiently across the construction site.
    (They used the pole for balanced, manual transport.)

Variants and Related Words

• Picul (n): a traditional unit of weight used in East Asia, roughly equal to 60 kilograms.
  • The merchant sold a picul of tea leaves. (A specific weight measure.)
• Carrying pole (n): a more general term for a similar implement used in various cultures.
  • The carrying pole is a common tool in rural areas for transporting water or crops.

Synonyms

• Shoulder pole: a pole carried on the shoulder for balancing loads.
• Yoke: a wooden crosspiece used for carrying loads, often across the shoulders.

Related Idioms

• "Heavy is the picul-stick": a metaphorical expression meaning that a great responsibility or burden is difficult to bear.
  • As the eldest child, he often felt that heavy is the picul-stick of family obligations.
    (He felt the weight of responsibility.)