beta n. in the sport of rock climbing, advice or instruction on the best way to climb a geographic feature. Etymological Note: The term is said to be derived from Betamax, the first popular format for recording video. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
Dylan from Charlottesville, Virginia, was rock climbing at his brother’s bachelor party when he heard other climbers called gumbies. Dylan figured that a gumby must be the kind of beginner or overconfident participant whose skills don’t...
Carpe diem! A new book reveals the surprisingly unfamiliar stories behind familiar quotations. Also: Rock climbers have gumbies, and surfers have kooks. What do those words say about beginners who have more confidence than experience? Plus, if...