by Joesef August 23, 2005
(its a name) this legitimately has no other definition besides "a beautiful and rare flower" and i think that pretty lame so ima give it a better one.
an etaoins is a girl who needs to realize theirs so much
more to life. she wild and crazy, but people think shes a bitch. but once you get to know her u realize shes actually really nice and misunderstood. she normally has problems trusting people because mostly all the people shes opened up to have left her; for no reason at all. shes a 8 out of 10 and loves being called tanner (even tho no one calls her that)
an etaoins is a girl who needs to realize theirs so much
more to life. she wild and crazy, but people think shes a bitch. but once you get to know her u realize shes actually really nice and misunderstood. she normally has problems trusting people because mostly all the people shes opened up to have left her; for no reason at all. shes a 8 out of 10 and loves being called tanner (even tho no one calls her that)
by connniptions April 08, 2019
A nonsensical set of letters that would occasionally appear in newspapers, books, etc. (in the days of hard-set type in publishing). Often assumed to be gibberish Latin. A nonsensical phrase.
Linotype machines had these letters in two rows of 6, in their approximate order of frequency in the English language. Supposedly, lino operators would test their machines by running their fingers down the rows, or use the letters to indicate an error in the typesetting, and occasionally would forget to remove the "phrase" from the piece they were typesetting, and was not uncommon to see printed in newspapers of the day. It appeared often enough that it came to the notice of the general populace, and Walt Kelly even named a character in his comic strip "Pogo" Etaoin Shrdlu. It has also appeared- purposefully- in works of fiction and literature.
Linotype machines had these letters in two rows of 6, in their approximate order of frequency in the English language. Supposedly, lino operators would test their machines by running their fingers down the rows, or use the letters to indicate an error in the typesetting, and occasionally would forget to remove the "phrase" from the piece they were typesetting, and was not uncommon to see printed in newspapers of the day. It appeared often enough that it came to the notice of the general populace, and Walt Kelly even named a character in his comic strip "Pogo" Etaoin Shrdlu. It has also appeared- purposefully- in works of fiction and literature.
(as a "practice run") etaoin shrdlu Today the Queen of England....
(as an error demarcation) Today teh QUeen etaolin shrdlu
(as an error demarcation) Today teh QUeen etaolin shrdlu
by SG Fan October 31, 2004
Historically, this phrase was used in linotype newsprinting to queue to the proofreader that a line mistake or template needs corrected. The first 2 vertical rows in the linotype keyboard read "ETAOIN SHRDLU".
Today, this phrase refers to the type of sensational, defamatory, libellous or click-baity articles that an obnoxious indie journalist publishes. It's typically an insult.
Today, this phrase refers to the type of sensational, defamatory, libellous or click-baity articles that an obnoxious indie journalist publishes. It's typically an insult.
Donald's entire "in the crossfire" type of journalism adds up to just a bunch of hyped-up Etaoin Shrdlu written about bar DJs he doesn't like.
by FlakFerret February 19, 2024