Backronym - 2 dictionary results
backronym
n. [portmanteau of back + acronym] A word interpreted as an acronym that was not originally so intended. This is a special case of what linguists call `back formation'. Examples are given under BASIC, recursive acronym (Cygnus), Acme, and mung. Discovering backronyms is a common form of wordplay among hackers. Compare retcon.
Jargon File 4.2.0
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backronym jargon
(Backward acronym) A word which has been turned into an acronym by inventing an expansion, rather than the other way around. E.g. "ping".
(2005-06-22)
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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