stecca

Stecca is a feminine noun in Italian with several related but distinct meanings. In its general sense, it denotes a straight, slender piece of wood or other material, longer than it is wide, used as a support, a rod, or a component in various tools and crafts. Stecche can be made from wood, metal, or composite materials and appear in contexts such as construction, shelving, fencing, or model-making.

In sports, the term is especially associated with billiards and pool. La stecca, or stecca da biliardo, is the cue used to strike the ball. A typical stecca measures about 1.4 to 1.5 meters in length and is tapered toward a tip that contacts the ball. Modern cues may use wood, fiberglass, or graphite cores and feature interchangeable tips.

In carpentry and craftsmanship, stecche refer to wooden slats or battens employed as components in frames, paneling, latticework, or as spacers and guides in construction. The plural stecche is common when referring to multiple slats.

Other specialized senses maintain the core idea of a slender rod, but the billiard usage remains the most widely recognized. Stecca, therefore, serves as a versatile term bridging everyday references to simple wooden sticks and more specific equipment like the billiard cue.