spool

8 definitions found

spool - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Spool \Spool\ (sp[=oo]l), n. [OE. spole, OD. spoele, D. spoel;
     akin to G. spule, OHG. spuola, Dan. & Sw. spole.]
     A piece of cane or reed with a knot at each end, or a hollow
     cylinder of wood with a ridge at each end, used to wind
     thread or yarn upon.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Spool stand, an article holding spools of thread, turning
        on pins, -- used by women at their work.
        [1913 Webster]

  Spool \Spool\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Spooled (sp[=oo]ld); p. pr.
     & vb. n. Spooling.]
     To wind on a spool or spools.
     [1913 Webster]

spool - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  spool
      n 1: a winder around which thread or tape or film or other
           flexible materials can be wound [syn: bobbin, spool,
           reel]
      v 1: transfer data intended for a peripheral device (usually a
           printer) into temporary storage
      2: wind onto a spool or a reel

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

  Spool
  
     <language> An object-oriented logic programming language.
  
     ["An Experience with a Prolog Based Language", K. Fukunaga et
     al, SIGPLAN Notices 21(11):224-231 (Nov 1986) (OOPSLA '86)].
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (1995-03-25)
  

  SPOOL
  
     <operating system> Acronym for Simultaneous Peripheral Operation On-Line
     ; but see also spool.
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (1996-05-20)
  

  spool
  
     <operating system> To send files to some device or program (a
     "spooler" or demon) that puts them in a queue for later
     processing of some kind.  Without qualification, the spooler
     is the "print spooler" controlling output of jobs to a
     printer; but the term has been used in connection with other
     peripherals (especially plotters and graphics devices) and
     occasionally even for input devices.
  
     The term "SPOOL" has been attributed to IBM as an acronym
     for Simultaneous Peripheral Operation On-Line but it's
     widely thought to have been contrived for effect.
  
     [No connection with "spool of magnetic tape"?]
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (1996-05-20)
  

spool - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  spool
   vi.
  
     [from early IBM `Simultaneous Peripheral Operation On-Line', but is
     widely thought to be a backronym] To send files to some device or
     program (a spooler) that queues them up and does something useful
  with
     them later. Without qualification, the spooler is the print spooler
     controlling output of jobs to a printer; but the term has been used
  in
     connection with other peripherals (especially plotters and graphics
     devices) and occasionally even for input devices. See also demon.
  

spool - V.E.R.A. -- Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms (June 2006) :

  SPOOL
         Simultaneous Peripheral Operations OnLine