from
Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003)
frob
/frob/
1. n. [MIT; very common] The {TMRC} definition was "FROB = a
protruding arm or trunnion"; by metaphoric extension, a frob is any
random small thing; an object that you can comfortably hold in one
hand; something you can frob (sense 2). See {frobnitz}.
2. vt. Abbreviated form of {frobnicate}.
3. [from the {MUD} world] A command on some MUDs that changes a
player's experience level (this can be used to make wizards); also, to
request {wizard} privileges on the `professional courtesy' grounds
that one is a wizard elsewhere. The command is actually `frobnicate'
but is universally abbreviated to the shorter form.
from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
frob
/frob/ 1. [MIT] The {TMRC} definition was "FROB = a
protruding arm or trunnion"; by metaphoric extension, a "frob"
is any random small thing; an object that you can comfortably
hold in one hand; something you can frob (sense 2). See
{frobnitz}.
2. Abbreviated form of {frobnicate}.
3. [{MUD}] A command on some {MUDs} that changes a player's
experience level (this can be used to make wizards); also, to
request {wizard} privileges on the "professional courtesy"
grounds that one is a wizard elsewhere. The command is
actually "frobnicate" but is universally abbreviated to the
shorter form.
[{Jargon File}]