: 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 WebThe terrain is technical and icy, requiring ropes and crampons.—Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2023 The required gear list for the PTL includes a mountaineering helmet, crampons, and a rock climbing harness with a double lanyard rigging system with locking carabiners used on via ferrata routes.—Brian Metzler, Outside Online, 24 Aug. 2022 Patterson encouraged people recreating in the mountains this year to be prepared with gear for traversing snow and ice, such as ice axes, crampons and microspikes, and devices for calling for help in remote locations, such as satellite messengers.—Abhinanda Bhattacharyya, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2023 Some tours give visitors a chance to hike out onto the glacier wearing metal crampons.—Nora Walsh, Travel + Leisure, 5 June 2023 In the comments on his Instagram page, @lespowtos, the skier describes making it out with crampons, or ice cleats, and a small piece of rope from his friends.—Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 22 Apr. 2023 The lacing system is smooth and secure, and the hard rubber sole (outfitted with a Roc-Plate) is capable of handling all terrain thanks to multi-directional crampons.—John Thompson, Men's Health, 16 Feb. 2023 Mike Leum stepped into the icy mountain with his crampon, using the steel-spiked footwear to find purchase.—Amanda Lee Myers, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2023 Achut, again, rescued me from myself and retrieved the lost crampon.—San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Dec. 2021 See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crampon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Middle French crampon, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch crampe
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