bang

1. A common spoken name for "!" (ASCII 33), especially when

used in pronouncing a bang path in spoken hackish. In

elder days this was considered a CMUish usage, with MIT

and Stanford hackers preferring excl or shriek; but the

spread of Unix has carried "bang" with it (especially via

the term bang path) and it is now certainly the most common

spoken name for "!". Note that it is used exclusively for

non-emphatic written "!"; one would not say "Congratulations

bang" (except possibly for humorous purposes), but if one

wanted to specify the exact characters "foo!" one would speak

"Eff oh oh bang".

See pling, shriek, ASCII.

2. An exclamation signifying roughly "I have achieved

enlightenment!", or "The dynamite has cleared out my brain!"

Often used to acknowledge that one has perpetrated a thinko

immediately after one has been called on it.

[Jargon File]

(1995-01-31)