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.
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 Not bringing ice cleats or crampons on an icy hike can be frustrating at best, and deadly at worst. Adam Roy, Outside Online, 17 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 12 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!