In Appalachian and Southern speech, "devil’s walking stick" is the name for a tall, thorn-covered plant (Aralia spinosa). With its spindly stalk and wicked spines, it looks like something the devil might use for a cane.
★ Despite its wicked thorns, the plant has long been used in folk medicine for toothaches and stomach troubles. Some folks also call it Hercules’ club, but in the hills it’s usually the "devil’s walking stick." ★
Origin and Etymology
The name comes from the plant’s spiny, cane-like stalk, which looks like a devil’s cane. The species (*Aralia spinosa*) is native to the eastern U.S., especially Appalachia and the South, and the colorful nickname stuck in country speech.
Usage Notes
Common in Appalachian and Southern woods, fence rows, and pastures. Kids are often warned about it by this name. Less common in everyday talk today, but still well known in rural areas.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "devil’s walkin’ stick." The "g" in "walking" often drops.
Created by The Hillbilly Dude, this site is a growing field guide to culture, speech, memory, and meaning - rooted in Appalachia but reaching across the world. Every slang word, saying, accent and story is gathered from first-hand experience and trusted sources. The goal: preserve authentic voices and share them with writers, learners, and culture lovers everywhere - with a little humor thrown in here and there. Read more...
I've only known it as 'devil’s walking stick,' and it'll mess you up. Pop a tire on your tractor even, it's loading with rigid 