| Slang. a person who is obsessively devoted to an esp. technical pursuit. |
propeller head jargon
Used by hackers, this is synonym with computer geek. Non-hackers sometimes use it to describe all techies. Probably derives from SF fandom's tradition (originally invented by old-time fan Ray Faraday Nelson) of propeller beanies as fannish insignia (though nobody actually wears them except as a joke).
[The Jargon File]
(1995-01-18)