shell
1. <operating system> (Originally from Multics, widely propagated via
Unix) The command interpreter used to pass commands to an operating system; so
called because it is the part of the operating system that interfaces with the
outside world.
The commonest Unix shells are the c shell (csh) and the Bourne shell (sh).
2. (Or "wrapper") Any interface program that mediates access to a special
resource or server for convenience, efficiency, or security reasons; for this
meaning, the usage is usually "a shell around" whatever.
[Jargon File]
(1995-05-11)
Nearby terms:
shelf « shelfware « SHELL « shell » shell out
» shell script » shell variable
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