▪ I. crampon, n.
(ˈkræmpən)
Also crampoon (kræmˈpuːn).
[a. F. crampon, late L. type crampōn-em, deriv. of radical form *cramp, f. LG.: cf. cramp n.1, n.2.]
1. A bar of iron or other metal bent in the form of a hook, to serve as a grapple or clutch; a grappling-iron; also = cramp n.2 2.
| 1490 Caxton Eneydos x. 39 There myghte ye see sayles rente, Cordes and ropes broken, And crampons of yron wrythen a sondre and plucked oute. c 1530 Ld. Berners Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814) 143 The brase..was so sore bounde with crampons of stele to ye benche, that he coude not remeue it. 1660 Howell Parly of Beasts 7 (D.) Man with his crampons and harping-irons can draw ashore the great Leviathan. 1696 Phillips, Crampons, pieces of Iron, hooked at the ends, which are fastned to great Pieces of Timber, Stones or other things, to pull 'em up or draw 'em along. [1706 ― (ed. Kersey) Crampoons]. 1876 Gwilt Archit. Gloss., Crampoons, hooked pieces of iron, something like double calipers, for raising timber or stones. |
† 2. ‘The border of metal which keeps a stone in a ring’ (Halliwell). Obs.
3. A small plate of iron set with spikes or points which is fastened to the foot to secure a firmer hold in walking over ice or slippery ground, or in climbing a steep. Cf. crampet 3.
| 1789 Coxe Trav. Switz. xxx. I. 421 To secure us as much as possible from slipping, the guides fastened to our shoes crampons, or small bars of iron, provided with four small spikes of the same metal. 1823 F. Clissold Ascent Mt. Blanc 12 As we had now to enter on the glaciers, I wore my spiked shoes, and the guides tied on their crampons. 1823 Crabb Tech. Dict., Crampoons, iron instruments fastened to the shoes of a storming party, to assist them in climbing a rampart. 1856 Patent Jrnl. 5 Sept., A crampon to prevent horses slipping in frosty weather. 1866 Cornh. Mag. Oct. 481 Our crampons..were very useful on ice or hardened snow. |
4. Bot. ‘A name given to adventitious roots which serve as fulcra or supports, as in the Ivy.’ [So in F.: see Littré.]
| 1870 Balfour Class-bk. Bot. Gloss. |
▪ II. † ˈcrampon, v. Obs.
[a. F. cramponner.]
To fix or fasten with crampons or cramp-irons.
| c 1530 Ld. Berners Arth. Lyt. Bryt. (1814) 44 Toures, cramponed and knyt tigyder wyth gret chaynes of yren. 1623 Favine Theat. Hon. iii. 339 On his Head, and toppe of his Wings, are fixed and cramponned strong Pikes of Iron. |