icbm address

ICBM address
 n.

   (Also missile address) The form used to register a site with the
   Usenet mapping project, back before the day of pervasive Internet,
   included a blank for longitude and latitude, preferably to
   seconds-of-arc accuracy. This was actually used for generating
   geographically-correct maps of Usenet links on a plotter; however, it
   became traditional to refer to this as one's ICBM address or missile
   address, and some people include it in their {sig block} with that
   name. (A real missile address would include target elevation.)
    

ICBM address
missile address

   <networking, humour> (Or "missile address") The form used to
   register a site with the {Usenet} mapping project includes a
   space for longitude and latitude, preferably to seconds-of-arc
   accuracy.  This is actually used for generating
   geographically-correct maps of {Usenet} links on a plotter;
   however, it has become traditional to refer to this as one's
   "ICBM address" or "missile address", and many people include
   it in their {sig block} with that name.  (A real missile
   address would include target altitude.)

   [{Jargon File}]

   (1994-12-15)