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This is nothing new.

Dozens and dozens of terms in our industry have "other" meanings.

For example it is common to talk about "pegging" a server -- a reference to how physical speedometers and other such gauges used to work. "Pegging" has a more recent sexual meaning as well.

And then of course there is "penetration" testing in the security sphere.

And so on and so on. It's fine. There is no conflict.



My favorite: cryptography frequently uses a nonce.


Ah. I was never even aware of the slang definition here: "prison slang a rapist or child molester; a sexual offender" Thank you for the knowledge!

https://www.thefreedictionary.com/nonce

(I see that it is primarily a UK term)


Now I want to get a job in the server room. Boot strapping the master sounds like fun suddenly.


Huh, I thought 'pegging' a server came directly from the sexual meaning. TIL.


Etymology is never really an exact science, but here's a pretty good discussion: https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/202318/etymology...

Anecdotally...

I remember hearing and reading "pegged" in an IT context back in the 1990s, at least 10-15 years before the sex term seemed to gain widespread usage. It was definitely used in entirely work-safe contexts where one would never dream of making anal sex references.

Of course, now that you mention it, I think your belief is likely common enough to make me reconsider its use! I think a lot of folks hearing "pegging" in 2020 probably think of the sex practice before they think of speedometers -- a lot of people don't have cars, and many that do never notice the little pegs.

However, I do think "pegging" (a somewhat obscure IT jargon term, with obscure etymology) is in a different situation than "grooming," an incredibly common everyday word. Retiring a bit of jargon is entirely different than retiring a an everyday word.




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