~

tilde
~

   <character> "~" {ASCII} character 126.

   Common names are: {ITU-T}: tilde; squiggle; {twiddle}; not.
   Rare: approx; wiggle; {swung dash}; enyay; {INTERCAL}: sqiggle
   (sic).

   Used as {C}'s prefix {bitwise negation} {operator}; and in
   {Unix} {csh}, {GNU Emacs}, and elsewhere, to stand for the
   current user's {home directory}, or, when prefixed to a {login
   name}, for the given user's home directory.

   The "swung dash" or "approximation" sign is not quite the same
   as {tilde} in typeset material but the ASCII tilde serves for
   both (compare {angle brackets}).

   [Has anyone else heard this called "tidal" (as in wave)?]

   (1996-10-18)