# picks and shovels

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. The crucial tools or ingredients for a booming industry or enterprise.

## Etymology
From the expression “When everybody is digging for gold, it's good to be in the pick and shovel business” or a variation thereof.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/picks-and-shovels