Quux

2 definitions found

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

  quux /kwuhks/ n. [Mythically, from the Latin semi-deponent verb quuxo,
     quuxare, quuxandum iri; noun form variously `quux' (plural `quuces',
     anglicized to `quuxes') and `quuxu' (genitive plural is `quuxuum', for
     four u-letters out of seven in all, using up all the `u' letters in
     Scrabble).] 1. Originally, a {metasyntactic variable} like {foo} and
     {foobar}. Invented by Guy Steele for precisely this purpose when he was


     young and naive and not yet interacting with the real computing
     community. Many people invent such words; this one seems simply to have
     been lucky enough to have spread a little. In an eloquent display of
     poetic justice, it has returned to the originator in the form of a
     nickname. 2. interj. See {foo}; however, denotes very little disgust,
     and is uttered mostly for the sake of the sound of it. 3. Guy Steele in
     his persona as `The Great Quux', which is somewhat infamous for light
     verse and for the `Crunchly' cartoons. 4. In some circles, used as a
     punning opposite of `crux'. "Ah, that's the quux of the matter!" implies
     that the point is _not_ crucial (compare {tip of the ice-cube}). 5.
     quuxy: adj. Of or pertaining to a quux.
  
  

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

  quux
       
          /kwuhks/ [Mythically, from the Latin semi-deponent verb quuxo,
          quuxare, quuxandum iri; noun form variously "quux" (plural
          "quuces", anglicised to "quuxes") and "quuxu" (genitive plural
          is "quuxuum", for four u-letters out of seven in all, using up
          all the "u" letters in Scrabble).]  1. Originally, a
          {metasyntactic variable} like {foo} and {foobar}.  Invented by
          {Guy Steele} for precisely this purpose when he was young and
          naive and not yet interacting with the real computing
          community.  Many people invent such words; this one seems
          simply to have been lucky enough to have spread a little.  In
          an eloquent display of poetic justice, it has returned to the
          originator in the form of a nickname.
       
          2. See {foo}; however, denotes very little disgust, and is
          uttered mostly for the sake of the sound of it.
       
          3. {Guy Steele} in his persona as "The Great Quux", which is
          somewhat infamous for light verse and for the "Crunchly"
          cartoons.
       
          4. In some circles, used as a punning opposite of "crux".
          "Ah, that's the quux of the matter!" implies that the point is
          *not* crucial (compare {tip of the ice-cube}).
       
          [{Jargon File}]