Veeblefetzer

1 definition found

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

  veeblefetzer
       
           /vee'b*l-fetz'*/ (Or "veeblefeetzer"?) A purposely
          nonsensical sounding word applied to any sort of obscure or
          complicated object, e.g. a piece of computer code, model
          railroad equipment, auto parts, etc.


       
          The more immediate origin of the word is "Mad" Magazine.  In
          the late 1950s and early 1960s it used the word along the same
          lines, especially in its send-ups of big business.  "North
          American Veeblefetzer" was the subject of satires of an annual
          reports, an in-house newsletter, and more.  A Veeblefetzer, in
          their case, was a robot-like device that did something or
          other.
       
          The more distant source was probably a 19th century yiddish
          word, possibly with limited usage.  In German, "Fetzer" is any
          contraption, while "Veeble" is a likely corruption of "Webel"
          -- meaning weaving.  Textile mills of this period were crammed
          with very complicated, wildly active and very loud pieces of
          machinery.
       
          See also {veeblefester}.
       
          [veeblefeetzer or veeblefetzer?]
       
          (1996-03-31)