Gensym

2 definitions found

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

  gensym /jen'sim/ [from MacLISP for `generated symbol'] 1. v. To invent
     a new name for something temporary, in such a way that the name is
     almost certainly not in conflict with one already in use. 2. n. The
     resulting name. The canonical form of a gensym is `Gnnnn' where nnnn
     represents a number; any LISP hacker would recognize G0093 (for example)
     as a gensym. 3. A freshly generated data structure with a gensymmed


     name. Gensymmed names are useful for storing or uniquely identifying
     crufties (see {cruft}).
  
  

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

  gensym
       
           /jen'sim/ (From the {MacLISP} for "generated
          symbol") To invent a new name for something temporary, in
          such a way that the name is almost certainly not in conflict
          with one already in use.
       
          The canonical form of a gensym is "Gnnnn" where nnnn
          represents a number; any {LISP} {hacker} would recognise G0093
          (for example) as a gensym.  Gensymmed names are useful for
          storing or uniquely identifying crufties.
       
          [{Jargon File}]
       
          (1999-10-31)