[syn: crampon, crampoon, climbing iron, climber]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Crampon \Cram"pon\ (kr[a^]m"p[o^]n), n. [F. See Crampoons.]
1. (Bot.) An a["e]rial rootlet for support in climbing, as of
ivy.
[1913 Webster]
2. a device with pointed metal projections worn over the
shoes to provide traction when walking over ice, or in
mountaineering; -- usually used in the plural.
[PJC]
3. same as crampoon.
[PJC]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
crampon
n 1: a hinged pair of curved iron bars; used to raise heavy
objects [syn: crampon, crampoon]
2: an iron spike attached to the shoe to prevent slipping on ice
when walking or climbing [syn: crampon, crampoon,
climbing iron, climber]