洋 (yáng, foreign/Western) +
镐 (gǎo, pick) = 'foreign-style pick.' The
洋 prefix is a 19th-century Chinese habit for naming Western imports — see also
洋火 (yánghuǒ, matches),
洋葱 (yángcōng, onion). Also called
鹤嘴镐 (hèzuǐgǎo, 'crane-beak pick') for its shape.
