noun
stone placed on railway track (by children)
Refers to the dangerous prank of placing stones on train tracks. Often used in safety warnings.
線路に置き石をするのは絶対にやめましょう。
Never place stones on railway tracks.
noun
decorative garden stone
A stone placed for aesthetic purposes in a Japanese garden or landscape.
日本庭園には美しい置き石が配置されている。
Beautiful decorative stones are arranged in the Japanese garden.
noun
handicap stone (in Go)
In the game of Go, a stone placed on the board before the game starts to compensate for a skill difference. See also 置き碁.
See also: 置き碁
置き石の数でハンデを調整する。
The handicap is adjusted by the number of handicap stones.
置き碁 refers to the Go game itself played with handicap stones, while 置き石 refers specifically to the stones used.
Compound of 置き (oki, 'placing') + 石 (ishi, 'stone'). The reading おきいし is a straightforward combination.