gender mender

2 definitions found

gender mender - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  gender mender
  sex changer
  
     <hardware> (Or "gender bender", "gender blender", "sex
     changer", and even "homosexual adaptor") A cable connector
     shell with either two male or two female connectors on it,
     used to correct the mismatches that result when some loser
     didn't understand the EIA-232C specification and the
     distinction between DTE and DCE.  Used especially for
     EIA-232C parts in either the original D-25 or the IBM PC's
     D-9 connector.
  
     There appears to be some confusion as to whether a "male
     homosexual adaptor" has pins on both sides (is doubly male) or
     sockets on both sides (connects two males).
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (1995-04-16)
  

gender mender - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  gender mender
   n.
  
     [common] A cable connector shell with either two male or two female
     connectors on it, used to correct the mismatches that result when
  some
     loser didn't understand the RS232C specification and the
  distinction
     between DTE and DCE. Used esp. for RS-232C parts in either the
     original D-25 or the IBM PC's bogus D-9 format. Also called gender
     bender, gender blender, sex changer, and even homosexual adapter;
     however, there appears to be some confusion as to whether a male
     homosexual adapter has pins on both sides (is doubly male) or sockets
     on both sides (connects two males).