piton

noun

pi·​ton ˈpē-ˌtän How to pronounce piton (audio)
: a spike, wedge, or peg that is driven into a rock or ice surface as a support (as for a mountain climber)

Examples of piton 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.
Rock climbers secure themselves by ropes to anchors, such as pitons or other climbing equipment. — CBS News, 14 May 2025 Sometimes they were thwarted by weather, other times by food running out, and once by not having enough pitons and rope. — Sarah Boon june 25, Literary Hub, 25 June 2025 Through the years, climbers began adopting devices like pitons that could be hammered into cracks and used to prevent lethal falls. — Mary Beth Skylis, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2025 Both follow a do-no-harm motto—in the case of clean climbing, removable, non-damaging gear like nuts and chocks are used over pitons and bolts, so as not to damage rocks. — Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for piton

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of piton was in 1898

Rhymes for piton

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Browse Nearby Words

pitometer
piton
pit orchestra
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Cite this Entry

“Piton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piton. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

piton

noun
pi·​ton ˈpē-ˌtän How to pronounce piton (audio)
: a spike or peg that is driven into a rock or ice surface for support (as for a mountain climber)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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