alt /awlt/
1. n. The alt shift key on an IBM PC or
clone keyboard; see bucky bits, sense 2 (though typical
PC usage does not simply set the 0200 bit). 2. n. The `option'
key on a Macintosh; use of this term usually reveals that the
speaker hacked PCs before coming to the Mac (see also feature key, which is sometimes
TECO, or under TOPS-10 -- always alt, as in "Type
alt alt to end a TECO command" or "alt-U onto the system" (for
"log onto the [ITS] system"). This usage probably arose because
alt is more convenient to say than `escape', especially when
followed by another alt or a character (or another alt and a
character, for that matter). 4. The alt hierarchy on Usenet,
the tree of newsgroups created by users without a formal vote and
approval procedure. There is a myth, not entirely implausible,
that alt is acronymic for "anarchists, lunatics, and
terrorists"; but in fact it is simply short for "alternative".
1. n. The alt shift key on an IBM PC or
clone keyboard; see bucky bits, sense 2 (though typical
PC usage does not simply set the 0200 bit). 2. n. The `option'
key on a Macintosh; use of this term usually reveals that the
speaker hacked PCs before coming to the Mac (see also feature key, which is sometimes
TECO, or under TOPS-10 -- always alt, as in "Type
alt alt to end a TECO command" or "alt-U onto the system" (for
"log onto the [ITS] system"). This usage probably arose because
alt is more convenient to say than `escape', especially when
followed by another alt or a character (or another alt and a
character, for that matter). 4. The alt hierarchy on Usenet,
the tree of newsgroups created by users without a formal vote and
approval procedure. There is a myth, not entirely implausible,
that alt is acronymic for "anarchists, lunatics, and
terrorists"; but in fact it is simply short for "alternative".
Related:
- alt: /awlt/ 1. n. The alt shift key on an IBM PC or {clone}
keyboard;
see {bucky bits}, sense 2 (though typical PC usage... - meta bit n.
The top bit of an 8-bit character, which is
on in character values 128-255.
Also called high bit, alt bit, or (rarely) hobbit... - meta bit: n. The top bit of an 8-bit character, which is on in
character values 128-
255. Also called {high bit}, {alt bit}, or {hobbit}... - bucky bits /buh'kee bits/ n.
1. obs. The bits produced by
the CONTROL and META shift keys on a SAIL keyboard (octal 200 and
400 respectively),
resulting in a 9-bit keyboard character set. The... - ALT ALT to
you too... - splat n.
1. Name used in many places (DEC, IBM, and
others) for the asterisk (*) character (ASCII 0101010).
This may derive from the `squashed-bug' appearance... - bit-paired keyboard n.,obs.
(alt. `bit-shift
keyboard') A non-standard keyboard layout that seems to have
originated with the Teletype ASR-33 and remained common for several
years on early computer equipment.
The ASR-33 was a mechanical device (see EOU), so... - splat: n. 1. Name used in many places (DEC, IBM, and others) for
the asterisk (`*') character (ASCII 0101010).
This may derive from the `squashed-bug' appearance... - alt bit /awlt bit/ [from alternate] adj.
See meta bit...
