crampon

noun

cram·​pon ˈkram-ˌpän 

1

: a hooked clutch or dog for raising heavy objects

—usually used in plural

2

: a climbing iron used especially on ice and snow in mountaineering

—usually used in plural

Illustration of crampon

• crampon 2

Examples of crampon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

On snowy days, Sullivan uses a simple set of crampons from Amazon to add traction to her shoes. —Sara Coughlin, SELF, 2 Oct. 2024

Row after row of outdoor suppliers offer goods ranging from knockoff North Face coats to crampons, trekking poles and trail bars. —Joe Sills, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024

After an unexpected two-day snow-in, McFadden ascended with crampons the icy face of 13,000-foot Pigne d’Arolla. —Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 18 Oct. 2024

Descending this section with just one pair of crampons was a high-risk option. —Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 9 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French crampon, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch crampe

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

crampon

noun

cram·​pon ˈkram-ˌpän 

: a set of steel spikes that fit on the bottom of a climbing boot to give a better grip on slopes of hard ice or snow

—usually used in plural