/kar'euh bee"neuhr/ , n.
a D-shaped ring with a spring catch on one side, used for fastening ropes in mountaineering.
Also, karabiner .
[ 1915-20; Karabiner, shortening of G Karabinerhaken carbine hook, equiv. to Karabiner ( carabine CARBINE + G -er -ER 1 ) + Haken HOOK; it was originally used to fasten carbines to bandoleers ]