: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 `clover' or `Command'
key on a Macintosh; use of this term usually reveals that the
speaker hacked PCs before coming to the Mac (see also {feature
key}). Some Mac hackers, confusingly, reserve `alt' for the Option
key (and it is so labeled on some Mac II keyboards). 3. n.obs.
[PDP-10; often capitalized to ALT] Alternate name for the ASCII
ESC character (ASCII 0011011), after the keycap labeling on some
older terminals; also `altmode' (/awlt'mohd/). This character
was almost never pronounced `escape' on an ITS system, in
{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).
-- The AI Hackers Dictionary
keyboard; see {bucky bits}, sense 2 (though typical PC usage does
not simply set the 0200 bit). 2. n. The `clover' or `Command'
key on a Macintosh; use of this term usually reveals that the
speaker hacked PCs before coming to the Mac (see also {feature
key}). Some Mac hackers, confusingly, reserve `alt' for the Option
key (and it is so labeled on some Mac II keyboards). 3. n.obs.
[PDP-10; often capitalized to ALT] Alternate name for the ASCII
ESC character (ASCII 0011011), after the keycap labeling on some
older terminals; also `altmode' (/awlt'mohd/). This character
was almost never pronounced `escape' on an ITS system, in
{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).
-- The AI Hackers Dictionary
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}... - 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... - 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... - 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... - 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... - feature key: n. The Macintosh key with the cloverleaf graphic on
its keytop;
sometimes referred to as `flower', `pretzel', `clover'... - TECO /tee'koh/ n.,v. obs.
1. [originally an acronym for
`[paper] Tape Editor and COrrector';
later, `Text Editor and COrrector'] n. A text editor...
