Apart from the many technical terms related to the equipment used, climbing has its own vocabulary that can seem incomprehensible to newcomers. To help you understand experienced climbers and speak like them, Glisshop has prepared a glossary of the lingo.
Climbing dictionary
A
Abseiling
A technique used to descend a rope.
Aid climbing
Aid climbing is a style where the climber can use any type of tool to pull themselves up the wall.
Arete/Edge
A sharp rock edge formed by the intersection of two rock faces.
Attempt
An attempt is a try at completing a specific route.
B
Belay loop
The ring-shaped part of the harness that connects the two tie-in loops.
Belay station
A setup at the top of a pitch consisting of at least two anchor points, sometimes with a chain or ring for securing once the climber reaches the top.
Belayer
The person who secures the climber.
Belaying
A technique used to secure the climber in case of a fall.
Bolt
An anchor point made up of a small metal ring attached to a rod, which is chemically bonded into the rock. The ring allows quickdraws to be clipped in during the climb.
Bouldering
Climbing on indoor walls or outdoor boulders of low height. The most famous bouldering site is in Fontainebleau Forest. It does not require ropes or harnesses but crash pads.
C
Campus
Climbing a section using only arm strength without relying on footholds.
Carabiner
A metal device that connects two elements in the belay chain.
Chain
A metal connection linking multiple points on the same belay station.
Chalk
White powder made from magnesium oxide that helps climbers keep their hands dry.
Chimney
A narrow passage between two vertical walls. Chimney climbing requires a special technique, either wedging the back against one wall and pushing with the feet against the other, or bridging with legs apart and feet pushing on either side of the chimney.
Climber
A person who practises climbing.
Climbing shoe
A specialised shoe used only for rock climbing, that is both flexible and highly grippy.
Coiling the rope
The process of neatly and efficiently winding the rope around itself or the climber.
Crack
A fracture line in the rock. A crack allows fingers, hands, arms, or feet to be inserted for climbing.
Crimp
A tiny hold that can be used with the tips of the fingers or toes.
Crux
A particularly challenging section of a climbing route.
Crossover
A move where the climber crosses their arms or legs to reach the next hold.
D
Deadpoint
Dynamic climbing move where the climber reaches for a hold using upward momentum.
Descender
A device used for abseiling down a rope.
Dihedral
An inward angle formed by the intersection of two walls.
Dyno
A dynamic move where both hands leave the rock to reach a distant hold.
E
Exposed
A risky section of a route where falling could result in hitting the rock face or the ground.
F
Free climbing
A type of climbing where the climber relies solely on their hands and feet.
Friends
A mechanical camming device that can be placed in a crack to secure the climber.
G
G-Tox
A muscle recovery action aimed at removing lactic acid from the forearm muscles.
Grading
A system for classifying the difficulty of climbing routes. There are many grading scales. The most used are the French scale, ranging from 1 to 9c, and the American scale, ranging from 5.2 to 5.15d. There are also specific bouldering grades for outdoor boulder problems. In the UK, trad climbing routes are graded using a two-tier approach combining an adjectival grade with a technical grade.
Gri-gri
An auto-locking belay device invented by Petzl. It locks automatically in case the lead climber falls.
Guidebook
A book dedicated to a particular climbing site that lists all the routes and their difficulties.
H
Half Rope/Double rope
A rope made of two strands that must be used together when lead climbing, allowing much longer abseils than with a single rope.
Hand-foot match
A climbing move where the tip of the foot is placed where the hand was.
Hang dog
When the climber rests on the rope, hanging from the protection.
Harness
A safety belt worn by the climber and the belayer around the waist. The climbing harness allows you to attach your rope and carry all necessary climbing gear.
Heel hook
A technique where the climber maintains balance by pulling on the heel while standing on the rock face.
Hold
A rock projection or cavity that a climber uses to pull up.
J
Jug
A large climbing hold that can be easily gripped. Jugs allow for rest and shaking out to remove lactic acid from forearm muscles.
L
Layback
Utilising a hold by applying an opposing force with the body’s weight.
M
Mantling
Mantling involves getting back into balance on your feet after passing a technical overhang section.
Mono finger hold
A hold shaped like a hole that can only be gripped with one finger.
Move
The action of moving from one hold to another.
O
Off-belay / On direct/ In straight
Climbing command used by the climber to inform the belayer that they are securely anchored and no longer need belaying. Once the belayer hears this, they can safely remove the rope from the belay device and stop managing the climber's rope, as the climber is now safe and no longer at risk of falling. The climber is tied in to the rock with a personal anchor and no longer needs the belayer.
Onsight
Climbing a route without prior knowledge of the moves.
Overhang
A rock face that overhangs.
P
Personal anchor tether
A sling connecting the harness to an anchor point.
Pitch
A pitch in climbing represents the distance between the ground and the first belay, or between two belays on a multi-pitch route.
Power endurance
The ability to maintain a high level of physical effort over a long period.
Prusik
Type of friction knot used in climbing and mountaineering. It is tied with a small loop of cord around a larger rope and grips the rope when weight is applied. The Prusik knot can slide when not under tension, but locks in place when pulled, making it useful for ascending a rope, self-rescue, or as a backup in belaying or rappelling. It is one of the most common auto-blocking knots.
Pumped
When the forearms are hard and cramping due to lactic acid buildup after intense climbing.
Q
Quickdraw
An essential piece of protection gear consisting of two carabiners connected by a short length of webbing. Quickdraws are clipped to a pre-placed anchor on the wall (a bolt) or a removable anchor such as a nut or ice screw.
R
Reverso
A belay device by Petzl, allowing for belaying from below or in ‘guide mode’ from above.
Roof
A roof or overhang is a very steep or horizontal section of a route.
Rope
Used for belaying and progressing in single-pitch or multi-pitch routes.
Route
A climbing path on a rock face. A multi-pitch route has several pitches.
Route reading
The visual analysis of a route to plan future moves.
S
Single pitch crag
A short cliff that can be climbed in a single push.
Single rope
A single-strand rope used for climbing and descending.
Slab
A rock face made of a single, fairly uniform plane, which may be inclined or vertical.
Slack
A command given by the climber to ask the belayer to give them more rope.
Solo climbing
The climber ascends the wall alone.
Sewing-machine leg
Refers to the involuntary shaking or trembling of a climber's leg due to muscle fatigue or nerves. It typically happens when a climber is tense, holding a strenuous position, or has been standing on a small foothold for an extended period. The leg moves up and down rapidly, resembling the motion of a sewing machine needle.
Spotting
Protecting the climber in bouldering or before reaching the first bolt to soften a potential fall.
T
Thrutching
A climbing style where any and all holds are used without any elegance, simply aiming to make it through the route.
Tight
A command given by the climber to ask the belayer to pull the rope taut and limit a potential fall.
Toe hook
Using a climbing hold by pulling with the tops of the toes.
Top-rope
A method of climbing where the rope is already set up to the belay point.
Trad climbing
Traditional climbing is a method that avoids placing permanent anchors in the rock.
Two-finger pocket
A hold that can only be gripped using two fingers.
U
Undercling
A hold that can only be gripped from underneath.
W
Whipper
When a lead climber falls several metres.
Here’s a quick test to check if you're now fully comfortable with all these technical terms:
What is the name of the manoeuvre used to descend in climbing?
There are two possible descending methods:
- Top-rope: With this method, it’s the belayer who lowers the climber after they have completed the route.
- Abseil: The climber is autonomous and lowers themselves by abseiling. They will have previously threaded the rope through the anchor.
Why do climbers say ‘tension’?
The term ‘tension’ pronounced by the climber indicates that they no longer want slack. They may want to rest at a point or feel unwell and do not want to fall. In both cases, the belayer takes in the slack and prepares to hold the rope tight to keep the climber in place.
What do we call those who take part in this sport?
A person who practises climbing is called a climber.
What is a crux in climbing?
The crux represents the most difficult section of the route. It is the part that requires the most technique and energy. Therefore, climbers need to manage their effort before reaching the crux to have enough physical and mental energy.