toaster

toaster
    n 1: someone who proposes a toast; someone who drinks to the
         health of success of someone or some venture [syn:
         {toaster}, {wassailer}]
    2: a kitchen appliance (usually electric) for toasting bread
    

Toaster \Toast"er\, n.
   1. One who toasts.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A kitchen utensil for toasting bread, cheese, etc.
      [1913 Webster]
      [1913 Webster]
    

Appliance \Ap*pli"ance\, n.
   1. The act of applying; application.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. subservience; compliance. [Obs.] --Shak.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A thing applied or used as a means to an end; an apparatus
      or device; as, to use various appliances; a mechanical
      appliance; a machine with its appliances.
      [1913 Webster]

   4. Specifically: An apparatus or device, usually powered
      electrically, used in homes to perform domestic functions.
      An appliance is often categorized as a major appliance or
      a minor appliance by its cost. Common major appliances are
      the {refrigerator}, {washing machine}, {clothes drier},
      {oven}, and {dishwasher}. Some minor appliances are a
      {toaster}, {vacuum cleaner} or {microwave oven}.
      [PJC]
    

toaster
 n.

   1. The archetypal really stupid application for an embedded
   microprocessor controller; often used in comments that imply that a
   scheme is inappropriate technology (but see {elevator controller}).
   "{DWIM} for an assembler? That'd be as silly as running Unix on your
   toaster!"

   2. A very, very dumb computer. "You could run this program on any dumb
   toaster." See {bitty box}, {Get a real computer!}, {toy}, {beige
   toaster}.

   3. A Macintosh, esp. a Mac in the original unitary case. Some hold
   that this is implied by sense 2.

   4. A peripheral device. "I bought my box without toasters, but since
   then I've added two boards and a second disk drive."

   5. A specialized computer used as an appliance. See {web toaster},
   {video toaster}.
    

toaster

   <jargon> 1. The archetypal really stupid {application} for an
   {embedded} {microprocessor} controller; often used in comments
   that imply that a scheme is inappropriate technology (but see
   {elevator controller}).  "{DWIM} for an assembler?  That'd be
   as silly as running {Unix} on your toaster!"

   2. A very, very dumb computer. "You could run this program on
   any dumb toaster."

   See {bitty box}, {Get a real computer!}, {toy}, {beige
   toaster}.

   3. A {Macintosh}, especially the {Classic Mac}.  Some hold
   that this is implied by sense 2.

   4. A peripheral device.  "I bought my box without toasters,
   but since then I've added two boards and a second disk drive".

   This is not usually to be taken literally but, to show off the
   expansion capabilities of the {Risc PC}, {Acorn Computers
   Ltd.} built a seven-slice machine (which they called "the
   rocket-ship") and installed every imaginable peripheral.  In a
   spare {drive bay} of the top slice they installed a toaster.
   This machine was exhibited at various shows where it attracted
   attention by occasionally ejecting a pizza.

   [{Jargon File}]

   (1997-07-18)