gumby

English

Noun

gumby (plural gumbies)

1. (climbing, slang, sometimes derogatory) An inexperienced climber.
   • 1984, Steve Roper, Ascent: The Mountaineering Experience in Word and Image, page 61:

     Eddy Delwood wove an exaggerated tale about him. It was a story about the day's big climb.
     "So the gumby's up there fifteen minutes now...He's not movin', just standin' there."

   • 2008, V. M. Jones, Out of Reach, page 230:

     "Beattie...What's a gumby?"
     "It's what I thought you were the first day: a beginner, a rookie, green as grass and wet behind the ears. Something you've never been, Spider-Man. Though the way you climbed just now...well..."

   • 2011, Stephen E. Schmid, Climbing - Philosophy for Everyone, page 155:

     You do notice one guy (not a gumby, he's done A5 climbs) who doesn't really hoist any equipment, never leads the climb, never finds routes, and conveniently forgets to bring his ropes.

   • 2018, Sarah Nicole Lemon, Valley Girls, page 183:

     Caroline was silent. Probably standing there, watching with pity. Or maybe she'd left. Why would she stay to watch the gumby climb anyway?

See also

• gumby gumby

Anagrams

• by gum