beanie key

from Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
beanie key
 n.

   [Mac users] See {command key}.
    
from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
feature key
beanie key
clover key
command key
flower key
kyrka
pretzel key
propeller key

   <hardware> (Or "flower", "pretzel", "clover", "propeller",
   "beanie" (from propeller beanie), {splat}, "command key") The
   {Macintosh} {modifier key} with the four-leaf clover graphic
   on its keytop.

   The feature key is the Mac's equivalent of a {control key}
   (and so labelled on some Mac II keyboards).  The proliferation
   of terms for this creature may illustrate one subtle peril of
   iconic interfaces.  Macs also have an "Option" {modifier key},
   equivalent to Alt.

   The cloverleaf-like symbol's oldest name is "cross of
   St. Hannes", but it occurs in pre-Christian Viking art as a
   decorative motif.  In Scandinavia it marks sites of historical
   interest.  An early {Macintosh} developer who happened to be
   Swedish introduced it to Apple.  Apple documentation gives the
   translation "interesting feature".

   The symbol has a {Unicode} character called "PLACE OF INTEREST
   SIGN" (U+2318), previously known as "command key".

   The Swedish name of this symbol stands for the word
   "sev"ardhet" (interesting feature), many of which are old
   churches.  Some Swedes report as an idiom for it the word
   "kyrka", cognate to English "church" and Scots-dialect "kirk"
   but pronounced /shir'k*/ in modern Swedish.  Others say this
   is nonsense.

   (http://fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/2318/index.htm).

   [{Jargon File}]

   (2005-09-15)
    

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