Jargon is terminology unique to certain groups or subjects.
1
vote
2answers
58 views
What does “any or any” mean in a legal text?
I have been going through several legal documents lately and have realised that a lot of them use the fragment "any or any" within some sentences.
Failing to place a guard or fence or warning ...
0
votes
1answer
43 views
use of phrasal verb “reach out” meaning to contact someone [closed]
This morning when I was writing a note I've got myself in doubt about using the reach out phrasal verb. My intention is to tell a person that I tried to reach him out, but, this is the doubt. What is ...
2
votes
2answers
120 views
What is the word for a pair of bytes?
Bit is a portmanteau of binary digit.
A byte is 8 bits.
A nibble is 4 bits (half a byte).
Is there a word for a pair of bytes?
2
votes
1answer
386 views
What does 'on-premises' mean?
Here is the example sentence.
Windows Azure Caching was developed from an on-premises Caching
solution that shipped with Microsoft AppFabric 1.1 for Windows Server.
What does 'on-premises' ...
2
votes
3answers
99 views
What is the origin of the phrase “racing cert”?
I had encountered the phrase, “racing cert”, the other day, and I had to go look it up. The only definition I immediately found was one from UD:
English colloquialism. Born from gambling talk and ...
2
votes
2answers
91 views
Is the word multimedia redundant?
So, the correct plural form of medium is media. Of course, there are exceptions, and the words have taken on new usages (such as adding a definitive article "the" to media, making it singular), but ...
1
vote
2answers
135 views
You are standing into danger
On lists of nautical flag meanings (one and another), the letter U means you are standing into danger. I am familiar with the phrase from a sailing point of view - it means something like "if you keep ...
0
votes
2answers
82 views
Content Performance [closed]
What is a right word to describe Content/Performance? It is about best and effective content that form a complete artefact.
The example text as below:
5.4.1 Content/Performance
This is about a ...
6
votes
3answers
234 views
What is the correct pronunciation of “regex”?
The term regular expression is often shortened to regex. What is the correct pronunciation of the g in regex?
Is it like the g1 in gallium, or is it like the g2 in giraffe? I’ve heard it said both ...
3
votes
2answers
162 views
Is “default” used for “a value used when nothing has been explicitly set” outside of IT world?
In a discussion at another question, rajah9 mentioned that default is used to mean to fail to repay a loan, but that in the computer world we now use it to mean a value used when no value has been ...
9
votes
4answers
4k views
Meaning of “reach out to somebody”
The dictionary explains this as:
To show somebody that you are interested in them and/or want to help them
The explanation indicates the subject of the sentence is the one that offers help, but ...
-1
votes
2answers
76 views
Correct? “We make no prescriptions …”
Can I use "We make no prescriptions about ..."? This dictionary doesn't give any definition of the word "prescription" apart from Medical or Legal jargon.
1
vote
2answers
132 views
Does one top up or top off rechargeable batteries?
While writing a forum post on proper lithium-ion battery care, I started wondering whether the proper term for recharging them while still fairly full is called topping up or topping off.
Perhaps both ...
-2
votes
1answer
175 views
Is it derogatory to call user a punter?
I've been wondering whether it is somewhat derogatory to call a user a punter. For instance,
We should encourage punters to participate in the discussions.
Update: My apologies — I owe you an ...
5
votes
2answers
639 views
Hyphens in verb construction containing prefix such as “re”
In semi-formal business writing in the United States, I often observe that writers tend to add a hyphen between a prefix and the root infinitive of verbs. In many of the cases, the resulting verb ...
-1
votes
4answers
822 views
What’s the difference between “tool” and “utility”?
I find these two words appear together often, especially mentioned as tool and utility for the Unix operating system. So I am wondering about the difference between them.
-1
votes
2answers
297 views
What is a jaffer?
I have been reading the cricket commentary today and came across an unfamiliar word: jaffer.
Anderson continues, surely figuring that someone is going to get
Morkel out soon and it bloody well ...
7
votes
4answers
277 views
Should I use “software defect” or “software bug”?
The "bug" word seems to be so popular that it overshadows "defect" (in search results, in tags somewhere, even Wikipedia article is called "Software bug") despite of looking jargonesque.
Is the word ...
5
votes
5answers
228 views
“Plugable” or “pluggable”
When it comes to programming copy edits, there are lots of words that would otherwise be thrown out or replaced.
Hive uses a plugable design.
Should that be plugable or pluggable?
If the ...
5
votes
3answers
157 views
Is there a sales term for how “hot” or “strong” a prospect a customer is?
I'm pretty sure my grammar is off in that title, because I'm awkwardly writing around a missing word.
If a salesperson has time to call one of two customers, he or she will want to reach out to the ...
0
votes
0answers
688 views
Meaning of “snapback” [closed]
someone just tweet this : now I'm xxx's snapback.
so I ask him what does snapback mean when u say u're someone's snapback.
He told me: snapback as in the hat you wear
So I can't get any of it, ...
6
votes
4answers
16k views
What does “10-4 ” mean?
I could have asked this question personally to my respected colleague who gave me a valuable answer to the question, “Is the ‘tame the infinite becoming an idiom or a popular phrase,” which I posted ...
2
votes
5answers
171 views
“Printfing” or “printingf”?
At this point the program starts printfing the pot value.
At this point the program starts printingf the pot value.
Both sound wrong, and yet... one of them must be used.
2
votes
4answers
966 views
What is the proper alternative for 'credentialize'?
Usage:
The emergence of a second competitor in the market will help
credentialize the product and the vision.
8
votes
2answers
495 views
Origin of the term “wizard” in computing
In computer user interfaces a "wizard" is a set of screens that guide the user through a process.
Does anyone know the origin of this term? I personally associate wizards with magic more than a ...
0
votes
1answer
121 views
What is this menagerie doing in my bread-basket?
I have just been visiting the supermarket, and been bewildered by some of the products on offer. I have previously enjoyed tiger bread, which appears to be a long flat loaf with sesame oil on top.
I ...
3
votes
3answers
284 views
Name of a sequence of moves in martial arts?
What is the name of a fixed sequence of moves used in training of martial arts?
Precisely, used in training, not in actual combat, as both parties know exactly what is to come and follow a fixed ...
3
votes
2answers
469 views
Instrumented? What is a good explanation/definition of the word. (English: Tech Jargon)
What is a good explanation/definition of the word Instrumented?
as in "Good code needs to be instrumented..."
I did a brief web search, but the few places it pops up seem to also be full of jargon, ...
10
votes
2answers
194 views
What's the most pedantically correct way to reference sectioned and numbered rules aloud?
I am a roller derby announcer. An important part of my job is to explain the rules of roller derby to the fans.
The rules of modern roller derby are promulgated by the Women's Flat Track Derby ...
-2
votes
3answers
318 views
Is jargon proper English? [closed]
Examples:
Database
Performant
Hyperlink
Are these correct usages of English, or not, and why?
2
votes
3answers
205 views
Term for a powerful personal computer?
What term would an enthusiast use to describe a powerful, tripped-out personal computer, the kind he might custom-build in his garage and overclock to the max?
The usual reference sources are failing ...
4
votes
1answer
354 views
Origin of “hike” in American football
Both Wikipedia and TheFreeDictionary list the term hike as an alternative term for snapping the football at the beginning of play. Where does it come from?
1
vote
2answers
180 views
Deconstruction of the phrase “some variety of” to refer to a single type or class of object
In informal English, I often see the phrase "some variety of" referring to a singular classification of a particular object of a sentence. For example:
That appears to be some variety of plant.
...
3
votes
1answer
87 views
Meaning of “float a deadpoint”
In a book about climbing technique (written by an American) I found the following expression:
...: floating a deadpoint from any one of a million different body positions.
While the meaning of ...
4
votes
3answers
313 views
What term is most appropriate when describing the infinite space of possibilities created through inductive reasoning?
In arguments contrasting the differences between deductive reasoning and inductive reasoning, it is often pointed out that deductive reasoning is, by definition, bounded by the terms described in the ...
5
votes
1answer
578 views
An alternative to “stakeholder”
Here's a sentence taken from an executive memo, "Action item: get feedback from stakeholders on SuperDongle 9000". Is there something that can replace "stakeholder"?
The word is not being used ...
1
vote
1answer
240 views
How to derive a noun or adective or adverb from “nya”? [closed]
In Russian network jargon there is adjective "няшный" (originating from anime fandom's "nya"). It is somewhat related to "kawaii" (cute) or "nice", but not the same.
However in English any attempts ...
7
votes
2answers
550 views
Etymology of “binky” — three questions
Definition 2 of binky at
wiktionary is "(rabbit behavior) A high hop that a rabbit may perform when happy." This definition is consistent with that at
rabbitspeak, and not inconsistent with "A kind ...
4
votes
2answers
2k views
Why do people use “mayday” and not “help”? [closed]
I’m not native English speaker, so I wonder why forces like policemen and firemen and such use Mayday instead of the simpler Help. What is origin of this habit?
47
votes
9answers
2k views
Is the term 'String' too jargony to use in a user interface?
Having worked as a software developer for a long time, I'm out of touch sometimes with whether a word would be considered jargon.
I am adding something to a user interface where a name is given, and ...
5
votes
3answers
434 views
Linguistics term for word choice
I was taught a word once by a linguist. I can't remember it, but it would be very useful for a Google search I am trying to do to solve another question on a different StackExchange.
It was a similar ...
1
vote
3answers
346 views
What's the opposite of nominal in the astronaut sense?
If some sub-system is not nominal, what do they say?
11
votes
3answers
517 views
How did the word “lid” come to mean “poor operator” (in the context of telegraphy and amateur radio)?
This sense of lid is still common today in Amateur ("Ham") Radio (in the United States, at least), usually as "they're a lid", meaning "they're being a rude or unobservant person." It doesn't refer to ...
21
votes
2answers
913 views
What is the origin of “daemon” with regards to computing?
Daemon has an interesting usage in computing. From my local dictionary:
a background process that handles requests for services such as print spooling and file transfers, and is dormant when not ...
1
vote
5answers
220 views
Is it true that the plural of “chad” is “chadim”?
I was busy at filing tasks today, working the hole punch and manufacturing... er... more than one chad. I consulted the Computer Contradictionary by Stan Kelly-Bootle, which is normally a reliable ...
4
votes
4answers
214 views
What can I call the two possible directions on a line (as a category)?
In English, a vector is said to have two properties: a length and a direction. The possible directions correspond to half-lines out of the origin (so that, eg, up and down are different directions). ...
3
votes
3answers
462 views
Thieves' words for their victims
What words might a thief (of any variety) use to describe the victims of his theft?
Con artists in film often use "mark", for example. Is there other jargon specific to the con branch* of crime? How ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
What does the punctuation “//” mean?
What does the punctuation "//" mean? For example:
I think I owe myself a THWACK.
//ashamed
... //run
... //head down
I heard this is related to the comment in the programming ...
1
vote
2answers
193 views
Looking for two words
I'm searching for two words or expressions.
The first word or expression means a situation in which there are too many items displayed on the screen, so that they cause a burden on the user and ...
6
votes
5answers
4k views
