The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):
silly walk
vi.
[from Monty Python's Flying Circus]
1. A ridiculous procedure required to accomplish a task. Like grovel, but
more random and humorous. ?I had to silly-walk through half the /usr
directories to find the maps file.?
2. Syn. fandango on core.
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):
silly walk
[Monty Python's Flying Circus] 1. A ridiculous procedure
required to accomplish a task. Like grovel, but more
random and humorous. "I had to silly-walk through half the
/usr directories to find the maps file."
2. Synonym fandango on core.
[Jargon File]