tent-peg
Definition
Noun: A "tent-peg" is a pointed rod, typically made of metal, wood, or plastic, that is driven into the ground to secure a tent by holding its ropes or guy lines in place.
Usage Examples
- (A rod used to anchor a tent.)
- (A missing anchoring device.)
- (A rod that failed due to stress.)
Advanced Usage
"to pull up tent-pegs": to prepare to leave a campsite or, metaphorically, to end a stay or situation.
- After three weeks of camping, they pulled up the tent-pegs and headed home. (They dismantled the tent and departed.)
"tent-peg as a tool": sometimes used in survival contexts as a makeshift stake or marker.
- He used a spare tent-peg to scratch a line in the dirt. (The peg served as a writing tool.)
Variants and Related Words
Tent peg (n): a common alternative spelling without the hyphen.
- We bought a set of tent pegs for the new camping gear. (Same meaning as tent-peg.)
Peg (n): a general term for a pin or bolt used to secure or fasten things.
- She hung her coat on a wooden peg by the door. (A different type of peg, not specific to tents.)
Synonyms
- Stake: a pointed piece of wood or metal driven into the ground, often used for tents or fences.
- Anchor peg: a peg specifically designed to hold something in place.
- Guy peg: a peg used to secure a guy rope.
Related Idioms
- "Peg out": to mark boundaries with pegs, or informally, to die or fail.
- They pegged out the campsite before setting up the tents. (They marked the area with pegs.)
- His old car finally pegged out on the highway. (The car broke down completely.)