IBM Jargon and General Computing Dictionary Tenth Edition
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IBM Jargon and General Computing Dictionary Tenth Edition Preface This is the Tenth Edition of the IBM Jargon and General Computing Dictionary, dated May 1990. This edition follows the markup and format of the last (Ninth) edition, and has more than one hundred and seventy new entries (bringing the total to over fourteen hundred entries). This is not only the tenth edition of the dictionary, but is also its tenth year; the first edition was compiled and distributed in 1980. At that time the use of jargon was on the increase, but I now observe that the quantity and use of jargon appears to be decreasing − perhaps as computing becomes less of a specialist discipline. Not only does this make my task as editor of the dictionary a little easier, but it might also imply that the computing industry is at last getting better at communi- cating with its customers! As usual, I am indebted to the content and management reviewers for this edition: Geoff Bartlett, Ian Brackenbury, Peter Capek, Philip Cohen, Bertrand Denoix, Truly Donovan, Forrest Garnett, and Ray Mansell. Any errors that remain are, of course, entirely my responsibility. I should also like to thank the hundreds of people who have contributed words or definitions to this dictionary. I have been especially encouraged by the diversity of the contributors, who come from more than forty countries and from all divisions of IBM. Newcomers to IBM have proved to be the most sensitive to jargon, and the old-timers (some from very high levels in the Corporation) have provided most of the history and anecdotes. Without the encouragement from readers, and, of course, the VNET communications network, this document would never have been created. The Content of the Dictionary The items in this dictionary have been selected from the huge vocabulary of computer-related terms used in IBM. To be included here, a word or phrase must either have originated in IBM, or (more commonly) its meaning or usage in IBM must be different from the usual. Acronyms and abbrevi- ations are not included except where they are necessary for cross-references, or are used as true words in their own right (for example, “APAR”). The origin of a usage is often obscure, so a few words may have slipped in under false colours. Do please send me any corrections or background material which will improve the accuracy of this collection. You are also encouraged to send possible additions to this dictionary − words and phrases, new or old, English or not. All contributions are most welcome. If possible, please include the source and date of any usage you quote. This dictionary is intended both to inform and to entertain. Each entry has a definition, which is usually supplemented by an explanation and an example of usage. Formal etymologies are not included, since in most cases the etymology is either unknown or disputed. In many cases, a meaning or usage is so subtle or bizarre that a light treatment is more appropriate (and conveys the sense better) than an attempt to define the term formally. As a result, this compilation is not just a source of information but is also a window on the IBM culture, as reflected in its language. Tenth Edition 1 Dictionary of IBM Jargon This dictionary is perhaps most useful to people new to the vocabulary of IBM. For this reason, the document in printed form is unclassified. It contains no material proprietary to IBM. The material is, however, substantially novel and is therefore protected by copyright. Producing printed copies of this document within IBM, or copying in printed form for private use is allowed, provided that reproduction is done without alteration. Permission for any other form of publication must be obtained from the editor, together with appropriate management and legal approvals. The Format of the Items The structure of the dictionary is formalised by the use of a generic markup language, which conforms (except for commentary) to the reference syntax of the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML, ISO standard 8879). Each item in the dictionary starts with a headword, which can be a single word or a phrase. Headwords are shown in lower case, except when they are always used in a particular upper or mixed case. The headword is followed by a pronunciation where not obvious (or where different from normal English). Every headword is followed by one or more senses. A sense starts with a part of speech, where appro- priate, which is followed by a definition − normally a single sentence. The definition is usually followed by an explanation, which may include quotations illustrating the use of the headword. These quotations are of actual usage (with occasional minor editorial elucidations) unless introduced by the word “usage”, in which case the quotation is illustrative. Within a definition or explanation, cross-references to words or phrases defined elsewhere in the dictionary are shown in an oblique sans serif font, thus (or are identified by some other typographic convention, depending on the SCRIPT processor and printer used). Subsidiary headwords, defined within an item, are shown in the same font as the headwords at the start of items. A number of abbreviations are used. Parts of speech may be shown as one of n., v., adj., and adv., which refer to noun, verb, adjective, and adverb respectively (these are often not the usual part of speech for the word or phrase!). Elsewhere, cf. stands for confer, compare with; e.g. for exempli gratia, for example; etc. for et cetera, and so on; i.e. for id est, that is; and q.v. for quod vide, which see. The items that are new in the current (Tenth) edition are marked with a bar in the left margin, and the items that were new in the last (Ninth) edition are marked by dots in the left margin. Editorial asides are bracketed, [thus]. In general, British spelling and punctuation are used, though for headwords, quotations, and the expansion of abbreviations the original form (often from the USA) will be found. Mike Cowlishaw (MFC at VENTA) IBM UK Laboratories, Hursley Park, Winchester, UK Tenth Edition 2 Dictionary of IBM Jargon ABEND all hands meeting ABEND (ab-end) 1. n. The undesirable termination address v. To talk about. Used when a speaker of a program (or system). From “ABnormal cannot answer a question, as in: “I shall address ENDing”. Invariably due to human error at some that subject another time” (this implies that, of point that the system was unable to overcome or course, the speaker has considered the subject in ignore. Typically results in catch-all error messages great depth, but sadly has not enough time now to (e.g., “syntax error”) that rarely help determine the give it the treatment it deserves). See offline. cause. 2. v. To end abnormally. See also crash. adjective v. To use a word as an adjective modifying . A-Box n. A primary storage unit: the one closest to some other word which in fact modifies the adjec- . the controller. Most 370 storage peripherals come tived word. This avoids the normal use of prep- . in two flavours. The A-Box (also called head of ositions and dependent clauses, as in “user effects” . string,orModel A) either houses the controller (e.g., (instead of “effects on users” or “effects caused by . 3422), is the controller (e.g., 3480), or connects to users”). Another example is “That is a documenta- . the controller. The B-Box (Model B) is used for tion hit” (rather than “That is a hit on the . extending the string. Some strings can be connected documentation”). See also verb. to the controller at both ends, in which case the unit administrivia n. Any kind of bureaucratic red tape . at the end of the string is usually a Model D. or paperwork, IBM or not, that hinders accomplish- . accept n. A purchased and (usually) installed prod- ment of one’s objectives or goals. Often, anything . uct, most often used in the plural. As in: “The with a routing slip attached. demand number is the marketing estimate of adtech n. Advanced Technology. Time put aside for . customer accepts...”. a risky project, not necessarily directly related to a account situation n. Circumstances at a customer product. May mean: a) Play time (when someone installation which could lead to IBM losing revenue else is doing it), or b) Exciting, innovative system or reputation. A “red alert” state for a branch design with no product deadlines (when speaker is office. See also critical situation. doing it). acronym n. A word formed from the (or some) aeroplane rule, airplane rule 1. n. “When you are . initial letters of other words and often printed in lost, climb and confess”. 2. n. Complexity . uppercase. Strictly speaking, if it can only be increases the possibility of failure; a twin-engine . pronounced letter-by-letter then it is merely an aeroplane is more expensive and has twice as many . abbreviation. An example of an acronym: “Acro- engine problems as a single engine aeroplane. nyms: A Convenient Reduction Of Nomenclature When applied to large computing systems, the anal- . Yielding Mnemonic Syllables”. acronym is, in itself, ogy is that two power supplies (even though running . not an IBM word, but acronyms are a way of life in at overrated current output) driving two boards of . the computer business; there are so many acronyms logic are much more reliable than four power . and abbreviations in use in IBM, and so many are supplies of correct value with each pair driving each . coined each day, that this dictionary cannot attempt of two logic boards.