Frobnitz

2 definitions found

From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:

  frobnitz /frob'nits/, pl. `frobnitzem' /frob'nit-zm/ or `frobni'
     /frob'ni:/ n. [TMRC] An unspecified physical object, a widget. Also
     refers to electronic black boxes. This rare form is usually abbreviated
     to `frotz', or more commonly to {frob}. Also used are `frobnule'
     (/frob'n[y]ool/) and `frobule' (/frob'yool/). Starting perhaps in 1979,
     `frobozz' /fr*-boz'/ (plural: `frobbotzim' /fr*-bot'zm/) has also become


     very popular, largely through its exposure as a name via {Zork}. These
     variants can also be applied to nonphysical objects, such as data
     structures. For related amusement, see the Encyclopedia Frobozzica
     (http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node=Encyclopedia%20Frobozzica&lastnode_id=585787).
  
     Pete Samson, compiler of the original {TMRC} lexicon, adds, "Under the
     TMRC [railroad] layout were many storage boxes, managed (in 1958) by
     David R. Sawyer. Several had fanciful designations written on them, such
     as `Frobnitz Coil Oil'. Perhaps DRS intended Frobnitz to be a proper
     name, but the name was quickly taken for the thing". This was almost
     certainly the origin of the term.
  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  frobnitz
       
          /frob'nits/, plural "frobnitzem" /frob'nit-zm/ or "frobni"
          /frob'ni:/ (TMRC) An unspecified physical object, a widget.
          Also refers to electronic {black boxes}.  This rare form is
          usually abbreviated to "frotz", or more commonly to {frob}.
          Also used are "frobnule" (/frob'n[y]ool/) and "frobule"
          (/frob'yool/).  Starting perhaps in 1979, "frobozz" /fr*-boz'/
          (plural: "frobbotzim" /fr*-bot'zm/) has also become very
          popular, largely through its exposure as a name via {Zork}.
          These variants can also be applied to nonphysical objects,
          such as data structures.
       
          Pete Samson, compiler of the original {TMRC} lexicon, adds,q
          "Under the TMRC (railway) layout were many storage boxes,
          managed (in 1958) by David R. Sawyer.  Several had fanciful
          designations written on them, such as "Frobnitz Coil Oil".
          Perhaps DRS intended Frobnitz to be a proper name, but the
          name was quickly taken for the thing".  This was almost
          certainly the origin of the term.
       
          [{Jargon File}]
       
          (1994-12-16)