Stemple
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A stemple is a form of wooden step used in mining, caving and mountaineering, usually a wooden bar set between notches in rock walls for climbing purposes, often one of a series forming a ladder.
Webster's Dictionary says of the word:[1]
| “ | n. 1. (Mining) A crossbar of wood in a shaft, serving as a step. | ” |
If not well maintained, stemples can rot and should not always be trusted.[2]
The origin of the word is in the German Stempel, meaning a stamp or prop.[3]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, (C. & G. Merriam Co., 1913)
- ^ GLOSSARY: Stemple at 64.177.142.129, accessed 10 July 2008
- ^ Stemple at onlinedictionary.datasegment.com, accessed 10 July 2008
