feature key

2 definitions found

feature key - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  feature key
  beanie key
  clover key
  command key
  flower key
  kyrka
  pretzel key
  propeller key
  
     <hardware> (Or "flower", "pretzel", "clover", "propeller",
     "beanie" (from propeller beanie), splat, "command key") The
     Macintosh modifier key with the four-leaf clover graphic
     on its keytop.
  
     The feature key is the Mac's equivalent of a control key
     (and so labelled on some Mac II keyboards).  The proliferation
     of terms for this creature may illustrate one subtle peril of
     iconic interfaces.  Macs also have an "Option" modifier key,
     equivalent to Alt.
  
     The cloverleaf-like symbol's oldest name is "cross of
     St. Hannes", but it occurs in pre-Christian Viking art as a
     decorative motif.  In Scandinavia it marks sites of historical
     interest.  An early Macintosh developer who happened to be
     Swedish introduced it to Apple.  Apple documentation gives the
     translation "interesting feature".
  
     The symbol has a Unicode character called "PLACE OF INTEREST
     SIGN" (U+2318), previously known as "command key".
  
     The Swedish name of this symbol stands for the word
     "sev"ardhet" (interesting feature), many of which are old
     churches.  Some Swedes report as an idiom for it the word
     "kyrka", cognate to English "church" and Scots-dialect "kirk"
     but pronounced /shir'k*/ in modern Swedish.  Others say this
     is nonsense.
  
     (http://fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/2318/index.htm).
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (2005-09-15)
  

feature key - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  feature key
   n.
  
     [common] The Macintosh key with the cloverleaf graphic on its keytop;
     sometimes referred to as flower, pretzel, clover, propeller, beanie
     (an apparent reference to the major feature of a propeller beanie),
     splat, open-apple or (officially, in Mac documentation) the command
     key. In French, the term papillon (butterfly) has been reported. The
     proliferation of terms for this creature may illustrate one subtle
     peril of iconic interfaces.
  
     Many people have been mystified by the cloverleaf-like symbol that
     appears on the feature key. Its oldest name is `cross of St. Hannes',
     but it occurs in pre-Christian Viking art as a decorative motif.
     Throughout Scandinavia today the road agencies use it to mark sites
  of
     historical interest. Apple picked up the symbol from an early Mac
     developer who happened to be Swedish. Apple documentation gives the
     translation "interesting feature"!
  
     There is some dispute as to the proper (Swedish) name of this symbol.
     It technically stands for the word sevardhet (thing worth seeing);
     many of these are old churches. Some Swedes report as an idiom for
  the
     sign the word kyrka, cognate to English `church' and pronounced
     (roughly) /chur'ka/ in modern Swedish. Others say this is nonsense.
     Other idioms reported for the sign are runa (rune) or runsten
     /roon'stn/ (runestone), derived from the fact that many of the
     interesting features are Viking rune-stones. The term fornminne
     /foorn'min'@/ (relic of antiquity, ancient monument) is also
  reported,
     especially among those who think that the Mac itself is a relic of
     antiquity.