gweep

English

Etymology

Purportedly coined by hackers at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in 1977 and still in use through 1991. However, this entry did not appear in the Jargon File until the 1993 version 3.0.0, an edition which prompted controversy about Eric Raymond's stewardship and attention to proper attestation. The reliability of this particular addition is unclear; it was likely in use at WPI in 1991 as reported, but may have been specific to a much smaller subcommunity, particularly as it escaped mention in earlier editions of the Jargon File, which did capture other slang from WPI.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɡwiːp/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -iːp

Verb

gweep (third-person singular simple present gweeps, present participle gweeping, simple past and past participle gweeped)

1. (dated, computing, slang) To work on a minicomputer late at night.

Noun

gweep (plural gweeps)

1. (dated, computing, slang) A nighttime hacker on early minicomputers.

Related terms

• fweep