from
Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
gumby
/guhm'bee/, n.
[from a class of Monty Python characters, poss. with some influence
from the 1960s claymation character]
1. An act of minor but conspicuous stupidity, often in gumby maneuver
or pull a gumby.
2. [NRL] n. A bureaucrat, or other technical incompetent who impedes
the progress of real work.
3. adj. Relating to things typically associated with people in sense
2. (e.g. "Ran would be writing code, but Richard gave him gumby work
that's due on Friday", or, "Dammit! Travel screwed up my plane
tickets. I have to go out on gumby patrol.")