Chimneying

/ˈtʃɪmniɪŋ/ verb

Definition

The act of installing a chimney or maintaining chimneys; in climbing, the technique of ascending a narrow vertical crack by bracing against both walls.

Etymology

Gerund or present participle of the verb 'chimney,' adding '-ing.' In climbing terminology, it became a specialized term in the 20th century when the technique of using chimney-shaped rock formations became documented in mountaineering literature.

Kelly Says

Rock climbers borrowed the word 'chimney' for a climbing technique because the narrow rock channels look exactly like the inside of a chimney—it's a perfect example of how specialized communities create vivid metaphorical language.

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