from
Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
UN*X
n.
Used to refer to the Unix operating system (a trademark of AT&T, then
of Novell, then of Unix Systems Laboratories, then of the Open Group;
the source code parted company with it after Novell and was owned by
SCO, which was acquired by Caldera) in writing, but avoiding the need
for the ugly (TM) typography (see also {(TM)}). Also used to refer to
any or all varieties of Unixoid operating systems. Ironically, lawyers
now say that the requirement for the trademark postfix has no legal
force, but the asterisk usage is entrenched anyhow. It has been
suggested that there may be a psychological connection to practice in
certain religions (especially Judaism) in which the name of the deity
is never written out in full, e.g., `YHWH' or `G--d' is used. See also
{glob} and {splat out}.
from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
UN*X
<operating system, convention> Used to refer to the {Unix}
{operating system} (a trademark of {AT&T}) in writing, but
avoiding the need for the ugly (TM) typography. Also used to
refer to any or all varieties of Unixoid operating systems.
Ironically, lawyers now say that the requirement for the
TM-postfix has no legal force, but the asterisk usage is
entrenched anyhow.
It has been suggested that there may be a psychological
connection to practice in certain religions (especially
Judaism) in which the name of the deity is never written out
in full, e.g. "YHWH" or "G--d" is used.
See also {glob}.
(1998-04-17)