chadless keypunch

1 definition found

chadless keypunch - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  Chadless keypunch
  
     <hardware> A card punch which cut little U-shapes in
     punched cards, rather than punching out a circle or
     rectangle.  The U's made a hole when folded back.
  
     One of the Jargon File's correspondents believed that the
     term "chad" derived from the Chadless keypunch.  Obviously,
     if the Chadless keypunch didn't make them, then the stuff that
     other keypunches made had to be "chad".  The assertion that
     the keypunch was named after its inventor is not supported by
     any record in US or UK patents or surname references.
  
     (2000-11-22)