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frobnitz /frob'nits/, pl. `frobnitzem' /frob'nit-zm/ or
`frobni' /frob'ni:/ n.
[TMRC] An unspecified physical
object, a widget. Also refers to electronic black boxes. This
rare form is usually abbreviated to `frotz', or more commonly to
frob. Also used are `frobnule' (/frob'n[y]ool/) and
`frobule' (/frob'yool/). Starting perhaps in 1979, `frobozz'
/fr*-boz'/ (plural: `frobbotzim' /fr*-bot'zm/) has also
become very popular, largely through its exposure as a name via
Zork. These variants can also be applied to nonphysical
objects, such as data structures.
Pete Samson, compiler of the original TMRC lexicon, adds,
"Under the TMRC [railroad] layout were many storage boxes, managed
(in 1958) by David R. Sawyer. Several had fanciful designations
written on them, such as `Frobnitz Coil Oil'. Perhaps DRS intended
Frobnitz to be a proper name, but the name was quickly taken for
the thing". This was almost certainly the origin of the
term.
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