Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun Nonsense, filler text, or an example of accidental typing.
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
From the arrangement of letters on the keyboard of a Linotype machine—typesetters would mark errors by running their fingers across the keys, and the results would sometimes accidentally find their way into print.
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sarra commented on the word etaoin shrdlu
Once etched into one's mind, makes a game of Hangman quite predictable... (though I found I'd memorised it by accident and not for that purpose!)
The full sequence on the Linotype keyboard is etaoin shrdlu cmfwyp vbgkqj xz.
October 4, 2007
oroboros commented on the word etaoin shrdlu
Neat! ETOANIRSH is the relative letter frequency list for the alphabet I'm familiar with and have memorized for such puzzles as cryptograms, etc. The 2- and 3- letter frequencies are also helpful.
October 5, 2007
sarra commented on the word etaoin shrdlu
as far as I'm aware, the sequence was accepted as an approximation even when the Linotype keyboard was made. I imagine it varies slightly with time and according to dialect/material surveyed.
October 13, 2007
alexz commented on the word etaoin shrdlu
it seems wiktionary is lacking.
Its a list of the most frequent letters, and in this case, selected to minimize wear and tear on hole punching equpment for paper tape systems.
https://youtu.be/JafQYA7vV6s?t=2m0s
March 31, 2015