noun, masculine/aθiˈkate/plural: acicates
spur (implement for prodding a horse); incentive, spur (anything that inspires or motivates)
“Su presencia, su fragilidad, su espantosa soberanía, a algunos les sirve de acicate o de recordatorio.” — Last Evenings on Earth
Synonyms: espuela, incentivo
Borrowed from Andalusian Arabic السِّقَاط (as-siqáṭ). Compare Portuguese acicate.