A
aid climbing Aid climbing. The equipment used during the climb serves not only for protection but also to assist upward progress.
aider Ladder-like aid tool used in aid climbing.
Adze The adze (spade-like) end of an ice axe.
aid route A climbing route that employs aid climbing techniques.
Alove Originally: balcony. A sheltered terrain feature, such as a shallow, large alcove.
alpine style Alpine style — ascending in one continuous push without pre-established camps or supply caches.
AMS Acute Mountain Sickness.
Anchor A fixed point used for belaying between pitches.
Arete A sharp ridge or crest of a mountain.
Ascender A mechanical device used for ascending a rope.
ATC Black Diamond A type of belay device produced by Black Diamond (Air Traffic Controller).
Avalanche An avalanche.
B
Bail To abandon a climb for any reason before reaching the top.
Barn door Door-like swing. Occurs when hand and foot holds are aligned and the climber’s center of gravity is not below the holds, causing an uncontrollable rotation around the axis like a barn door.
BC (Base camp) Base camp.
Beer Liquid consumed in large quantities after climbing. (I love it!)
Belay To protect a climber by managing the rope to catch a fall.
Belay station A location equipped with fixed gear for belaying between pitches (e.g., chains and two bolts).
Belayer The person who manages the rope to protect the climber.
"Belay on" The belayer signals that they are ready to protect the climber (US) (UK: Climb when ready).
"Below" A warning shouted when something (like a rock) is falling from above (UK). (US: Rock). (In ice climbing: "Ice!")
Beta Information about a climbing route that has not been climbed yet.
Beta flash A successful first ascent (on lead) using prior knowledge (beta), without falling.
Big wall A multi-day rock climb requiring extensive gear, often involving the use of haul ropes, and overnight stays on the wall.
Binner Carabiner.
A very small rock piton made by Birdbeak A5.
Black ice – Black ice that has existed for a long time in extremely cold temperatures. Very hard.
Blue ice – Blue ice, generally more brittle than white ice.
Bolt – Rock anchor.
Bomber – Something extremely solid — a protection point or hold. Derived from "bomb-proof."
Bombproof – An extremely reliable protection point.
Bong – A particularly large rock piton.
Bootie – Gear found that someone else has intentionally or unintentionally left behind.
Boulder – Bouldering. Climbing on large boulders or relatively low (generally under six meters) rock walls without ropes. Even if you fall, you can land safely.
Bounce – Falling from a great height. Or, more commonly used in climbing, it refers to gently bouncing up and down on an aid ladder after attaching it to a new anchor to ensure the new anchor is secure.
Bowline – Bowline knot (not to be used in climbing unless protected by a second rope).
Bucket – A large handhold.
Butterfly knot – Butterfly knot.
Buttress – A rock formation or mountain that stands prominently in front of the main peak.
C
Cam SLCD (spring loaded camming devices) – A general term for cam-type protection devices, such as Friends, Camalots, Aliens, TCUs, etc.
Campus – A dynamic climbing style using only the arms.
Campus board – A training board with rungs, used to train dynamic moves and finger strength.
Carabiner – Carabiner.
Chalk – Chalk powder, magnesium carbonate.
Chausey – Poor rock condition, crumbly and loose in many places.
Chest harness – Chest harness.
Chickenhead – A small, bump-like rock feature.
Chimney – A wide crack that can accommodate most of the climber’s body. Chimney climbing technique.
Chipped hold – A hold that was created by chiseling with a hammer and chisel because the climber couldn’t ascend otherwise.
Chock – A general term for rock protection pieces with ropes threaded through them. Usually refers to passive protection like nuts or stoppers, but some also call SLCDs "mechanical cams," which is the origin of the term "mechanical chock."
Chockstone – A stone tightly wedged or embedded in a rock fissure.
Chute – A steep gully.
Cirque – A steep, bowl-shaped or semi-enclosed mountain wall, often carved out by glaciers during the last Ice Age.
Class – Grade.
Clean means free climbing without falling or hanging on the rope during practice (this meaning is not commonly used).
Clean means aid climbing without using a hammer. [It is a style of climbing that causes less damage to the rock.]
Clean means to remove the protection gear from a route. Usually done by the second climber.
Cliffhanger is a small type of rock hook that can be clipped onto small protrusions or holes.
"Climbing" is what a climber says to the belayer to indicate they are starting to climb. It should be said after the belayer says “Belay on”.
Climbing gym is a rock climbing facility.
Climbing shoes are specialized shoes for rock climbing.
Climbing wall is the British term for climbing gym.
"Climb when ready" in British English means "Belay on". It's what the belayer says to the climber to indicate it's okay to start climbing once they are ready.
Clip means to attach the rope into a carabiner or quickdraw.
Clove hitch is a type of knot also known as a double hitch or double loop knot.
Col refers to a mountain pass or saddle.
Cord generally refers to thin static rope (5, 5.5, 6 mm), but is also commonly used to refer to all types of ropes.
Corner refers to an inside corner or an interior wall angle.
Corn snow is snow that has become granular.
Couloir is a steep gully, often referring to one filled with ice or snow.
Crab is a short term for carabiner, commonly used in former British Commonwealth countries.
Crack refers to a fissure or crack in the rock.
Crag is a small rock climbing area, typically featuring short routes.
Crampons are spiked devices worn on boots for walking on ice or snow.
Crater means to fall to the ground. Originally refers to a meteor crater.
Crest is the top of a ridge.
Crevasse is a deep crack or fissure in a glacier.
Crimper is a very small hold, usually only the size of your fingertips, often requiring a crimping hand position to use.
Crux is the hardest part of a climbing route or a single pitch.
cwm is a Welsh word for a cirque, pronounced "koom". It is mainly heard in reference to the "Western Cwm" on the southern route of Mount Everest.
D
Daisy chain is a type of sling sewn or tied with a series of loops. It is used to easily adjust the length of the sling.
sling (British) / runner (American): a loop of webbing or cord used in climbing.
Deadpoint is a climbing technique where, during a dynamic move, the climber catches the next hold at the exact moment they reach the highest point of their jump.
Death wobbles — trembling of the calves after fatigue
Deck — platform. Landing on it after a fall is not fun.
Descender — descender device
Dihedral — inward-facing corner
"Dirt me" — lower me down (U.S.)
Dog (to dog a move) — to start over from a fall and repeat until completing a specific move or section of a route. Hanging on the rope to practice the hardest part repeatedly.
Double fisherman's knot — double fisherman’s knot
Double rope — double rope
Downclimbing — climbing down.
Dry tool — using ice-climbing tools to climb a rock route — common in mixed climbing.
Dude — American slang for a climber
Dynamic belay — dynamic belaying. A protection method where the rope is given out slightly during high impact to reduce force on the anchor.
Dyno — dynamic move.
E
Edge — sharp edge or ridge on a rock face.
Edging — an important climbing technique. Using the edges of the inside or outside of the foot to push off, as opposed to smearing (i.e., using the sole flat).
Elvis — trembling of the calves when fatigued.
Epic — having unexpected major trouble and struggling hard to escape, resulting in a tough and exhausting experience.
Etrier — aiders (rope ladder).