Online Computer Terms Dictionary - W

wank

/wangk/ [Columbia University: probably by mutation from Commonwealth slang "wank", to masturbate] Used much as hack is elsewhere, as a noun denoting a clever technique or person or the result of such cleverness. May describe (negatively) the act of hacking for hacking's sake ("Quit wanking, let's go get supper!") or (more positively) a wizard. "wanky" describes something particularly clever (a person, program, or algorithm). Conversations can also get wanky when there are too many wanks involved. This excess wankiness is signalled by an overload of the "wankometer" (compare bogometer). When the wankometer overloads, the conversation's subject must be changed, or all non-wanks will leave. Compare "neep-neeping" (under neep-neep). Usage: US only. In Britain and the Commonwealth this word is *extremely* rude and is best avoided unless one intends to give offense.