piton

noun

pi·​ton ˈpē-ˌtän 

: 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

Instead of pitons that damaged the rock walls climbers were ascending, Chouinard Equipment started selling chocks, metal anchors that could be wedged into existing cracks in the rock. — Tony Biasotti, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026

In the mid ‘60s, The North Face was one of the first brick-and-mortar spots where Chouinard’s pitons, carabiners, and other gear could be purchased. — Maya Silver, Outside, 20 Oct. 2025

His company's main product—pitons, the metal spikes climbers hammered into rock faces—was literally destroying the granite walls of Yosemite. — Kyle Westaway, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 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

Word History

Etymology

French

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for piton

• bitten
• briton
• chiton
• gittin
• kitten
• mitten
• smitten
• whitten
• written
• handwritten
• honiton
• rewritten

Kids Definition

piton

noun

pi·​ton ˈpē-ˌtän 

: a spike or peg that is driven into a rock or ice surface for support (as for a mountain climber)