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pi·ton

(pētŏn′)

A metal spike fitted at one end with an eye for securing a rope and driven into rock or ice as a support in mountain climbing.

[French, from Old French, nail.]

(click for a larger image)

piton

left to right: horizontal, tubular, and ring wafer pitons

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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