crampon

noun

cram·​pon ˈkram-ˌpän How to pronounce crampon (audio)
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

Illustration of crampon
  • crampon 2

Examples of crampon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But if the technical challenges are going to include glacier travel or ice climbing then ice axes/tools, crampons, mountaineering boots, and protective sunglasses will go into the kit. Sean McNally, Outdoor Life, 13 Mar. 2025 Otherwise, don your cross-country skis, snowshoes or boots (with crampons) and enjoy cruising or ambling along the almost seven-mile Lac-Brome Path that’s lined in places with a variety of trees such as fir, larch, white cedar and sugar maple. Jeanine Barone, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025 The web of stretchable rubber embedded with metal or plastic studs straps to the bottom of shoes to keep the wearer from slipping and falling on slick pavement, a milder version of ice-climbing crampons. Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 11 Feb. 2025 Be sure to check conditions and pack crampons for hiking the slippery canyons in winter. Erica Zazo, Outside Online, 9 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for crampon

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of crampon was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crampon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crampon. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

crampon

noun
cram·​pon ˈkram-ˌpän How to pronounce crampon (audio)
: 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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