self-arrest
Noun
Meaning
self-arrest (countable and uncountable, plural self-arrests)
(climbing) Any of various mountaineering maneuvers in which a climber who has fallen and is sliding down a slope halts the slide without recourse to a rope or other belay system.
Examples
In either case, an ice axe not only assists with balance but provides the climber with the possibility of self-arrest in case of a slip or fall.
On a true ice slope however, an ice axe is rarely able to effect a self-arrest.