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Glite Dictionary
cramp iron

cramp iron

9.8
A metal strip with bent ends that holds stone blocks together
  • noun
  • UK
translation icon : estribo
  • The stone blocks were fastened securely with a cramp iron.

Examples

  • A cramp iron helps to prevent the movement of large masonry stones in historic buildings.

  • Over time, the cramp irons in the old wall became rusty and needed to be replaced.

  • The builder used cramp iron to secure the bricks.

  • We need more cramp irons for the construction.

  • A cramp iron holds the stones together, ensuring the structure remains stable over time.

  • Each cramp iron was carefully installed to secure the masonry in the ancient castle.

  • The contractor ordered additional cramp irons to reinforce the walls of the new building.

Synonyms

cramp
vscramp iron
  • UK
1 7.3

A metal bar used to hold stones or wood tightly in buildings

is a specific bent metal strip used for joining masonry pieces

How Strong

to anchor
51 3.4
cramp iron
  • UK
9.8
bolt
  • Specialized
42 3.8
dowel
  • Specialized
5 6.5
to tie
923 1.0

Surface Forms

cramp iron singular
cramp irons plural

Morphology

cramp + iron

The noun is directly compositional: 'cramp' (a metal strip or clamp) combined with 'iron' (the material) yields an iron cramp — a metal strip made of iron used to hold masonry. This follows a common noun+material compounding pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituent meanings should be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Cramp iron comes from a simple image: a cramp is like a 'clamp' and iron means 'metal', so it was a metal strip with bent ends that held stone blocks together. That's why cramp iron means a metal piece used to fasten masonry.