In honour of Word Spy’s 20th birthday earlier this year, throughout 2016 I’m highlighting words that are celebrating their own 20th birthdays.
Here’s a list of words that were coined (or have an earliest citation) in October, 1996:
Beowulf cluster
n. An inexpensive supercomputer-like system created from a collection of two or more desktop PCs connected by a high-speed network.
Earliest citation date: October 15, 1996
calm technology
n. Technology that remains in the background until needed and thus enables a person to interact with it in a calm, engaged manner.
Earliest citation date: October 5, 1996
deskfast
n. Breakfast eaten at a desk.
Earliest citation date: October 10, 1996
fleshmeet
n. A meeting in person, especially one composed of people who usually or only converse online.
Earliest citation date: October 17, 1996
foliologist
n. A person who is an expert on where and when tree leaves change color during the fall.
Earliest citation date: October 6, 1996
geeksploitation
n. To induce young computer programmers to work long hours by taking advantage of their enthusiasm and high energy levels.
Earliest citation date: October 11, 1996
generation lap
n. The tendency for young people to be increasingly more adept at technology than their parents or elders.
Earliest citation date: October 14, 1996
microbrowser
n. A small-footprint web browser that can be used with next-generation telephones and other small devices.
Earliest citation date: October 7, 1996
multipath movie
n. An interactive CD- or Internet-based movie that enables viewers to choose from several different plot lines.
Earliest citation date: October 28, 1996
phishing
pp. Creating a replica of an existing web page to fool a user into submitting personal, financial, or password data.
Earliest citation date: October 1, 1971
Talibanisation
n. The rise of extremist, fundamentalist groups within an Islamic society.
Earliest citation date: October 11, 1996
trading coach
n. A person who advises stock traders on the strategy and psychology of investing.
Earliest citation date: October 25, 1996
transumer
n. A big-spending traveler; a person who travels to shop.
Earliest citation date: October 1, 1996
vehicularly housed
adj. Describes a homeless person who lives in a car.
Earliest citation date: October 12, 1996
waitress mom
n. A woman who is married, has children, works in a low-income job, and has little formal education.
Earliest citation date: October 20, 1996
Zen mail
n. An incoming email message without any body text or attachments.
Earliest citation date: October 1, 1996