Naismith's rule

/ ˈneɪsmɪθs /

noun

1. mountaineering a rule of thumb for calculating the time needed for a climbing expedition, allowing 1 hour for every 3 miles of distance plus 1 hour for every 2000 feet of height

Word History and Origins

Origin of Naismith's rule¹

C19: named after W. W. Naismith (1856–1935), Scottish climber, who formulated it

Example Sentences

Y.M.C.A. missionaries introduced the game in Tianjin in 1895 and, using a Chinese translation of Naismith’s rule book, spread it widely.

From New York Times