Illustration of crampon
- crampon 2
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
Examples of crampon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The 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
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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
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
Dictionary Entries Near crampon
Cite this Entry
“Crampon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crampon. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
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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
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