hangdogging or hang-dogging. 1. Making excessive use of the rope during rock climbing. 2. When the leader of a climb hangs—whether on pitons, a piece of protection, or the rope—to plan the next move. 3. Dangling from a rope after a fall while rock climbing.

Here the hanging is literal and the dogging may or may not be derogatory. As it turns out the different definitions reflect different perspectives on climbing. According to climber Thomas Wandall, the first definition—with its derogatory implications—is one that “Trad” climbers would use. “Trad climbers are descended from European mountaineers and look with disdain at the Lycra clad gymnasts…they feel that if you can't climb it, go climb something you can, leave this one for someone with the skills to do it without hanging.”

The second definition reflects a perspective more in line with the “Sport” and “Rad” climbers. “Rad climbers consider the term neutral because they see themselves as pushing the sport…you can climb harder routes hangdogging.” Wandall is skeptical about the third definition, “it lacks the intention necessary for hangdogging.”

Hangdogging is not just any kind of hanging on a rope. “One hanging in order to photograph other climbs would not be hangdogging, nor to tie your shoe.” Hangdogging—or not—is the difference between a “flash” and “redpoint.” If you make it to the top of the climb without hangdogging on your very first time, that is a flash; if you don't make it on the first try a subsequent climb without hangdogging is redpoint.

The term bares no apparent relationship with the usage of the noun “hangdog.” And, it seems likely that the term is borrowed and repurposed.