wirehead

jargon /wi:r'hed/ (Probably from SF slang for an electrical

brain-stimulation addict) 1. A hardware hacker, especially one

who concentrates on communications hardware.

2. An expert in local-area networks. A wirehead can be a

network software wizard too, but will always have the ability

to deal with network hardware, down to the smallest component.

Wireheads are known for their ability to lash up an Ethernet

terminator from spare resistors, for example.

[Jargon File]

(1995-02-28)