[OT] Why is it called string?

[P at draigBrady.com]

Travis Whitton wrote:
>>"In computing, the word 'bit' is an abbreviation of what two other words?"
> 
> Wow, I had no idea it was an abbreviation either. Luckily, dict had the answer
> waiting for me:
> 
> From Jargon File (4.3.0, 30 APR 2001) [jargon]:
> 
>   bit n. [from the mainstream meaning and `Binary digIT']
> 
> It's nice to see the occasional thread on computing history rather than the
> endless stream of coding issues.

I'm always surprised by the number of people
in computing that don't know this.

bit is a contraction of "Binary digIT"
byte is a pun on the word bit (8 bits)
nibble is a pun on the word byte (4 bits)

Pádraig.