sitename /si:t'naym/ n. [Unix/Internet] The unique electronic name of a computer system,

sitename /si:t'naym/ n.

[Unix/Internet] The unique
electronic name of a computer system, used to identify it in UUCP
mail, Usenet, or other forms of electronic information interchange.
The folklore interest of sitenames stems from the creativity and
humor they often display. Interpreting a sitename is not unlike
interpreting a vanity license plate; one has to mentally unpack it,
allowing for mono-case and length restrictions and the lack of
whitespace. Hacker tradition deprecates dull,
institutional-sounding names in favor of punchy, humorous, and
clever coinages (except that it is considered appropriate for the
official public gateway machine of an organization to bear the
organization's name or acronym). Mythological references, cartoon
characters, animal names, and allusions to SF or fantasy literature
are probably the most popular sources for sitenames (in roughly
descending order). The obligatory comment when discussing these is
Harris's Lament: "All the good ones are taken!" See also
network address.