terminal adapter

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

Terminal Adaptor
TA
terminal adapter

   <networking, hardware> (TA) Equipment used to adapt
   {Integrated Services Digital Network} (ISDN) {Basic Rate
   Interface} (BRI) channels to existing terminal equipment
   standards such as {EIA-232} and {V.35}.  A Terminal Adaptor is
   typically packaged like a {modem}, either as a {stand-alone}
   unit or as an interface card that plugs into a computer or
   other communications equipment (such as a {router} or {PBX}).
   A Terminal Adaptor does not interoperate with a {modem}; it
   replaces it.

   [ISDN {FAQ}].

   (1994-10-03)