The @ sign. The word was first heard nationally on January 2, 1994, during a broadcast of CBS Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt. One week earlier, Mr Kuralt asked viewers to send in names for the sign, since no name existed. "Atpersand" was submitted by Professor John Giannotti of Rutgers University. Mr Kuralt read Professor Giannotti's letter during the broadcast.
Referring to the question "What's the @ symbol called?" on page 34 of the January2006 edition of ITnow, I can only suggest the following: If the "&" symbol, or "and sign", is known as the "ampersand" then the "@" symbol, or "at sign", must surely be known as the "ampersat".
British slang for a scientist or technical expert, esp . when the speaker is not certain of the expert’s specific field of study. Not necessarily derogatory, but typically used by persons without a technical background. In the US, the equivalent would be “egghead”, “squint”, or “geek.”
Origin of the word is unknown. Started sometime in World War 2. Given the typical evolution of British slang, could easily have started because what these experts did was confusing or “baffling” to the common person.
According to the boffins downstairs, the murdererused a serrated blade.
When you have to pee in a movie but don’t want to miss anything, and must do the following mental equation: will the amount I have to pee cause enough discomfort to diminish my attention capacity for the remainder of the movie to an extent which is greater than the amount of the movie I would miss by making a mad dash to the restroom.
I saw Satantango last night, wonderful film but by the 5th hour I had to start doing pee calculus.
Short-hand for the word floccinaucinihilipilification, meaning the estimation of something as valueless (encountered mainly as an example of one of the longest words in the English language).