RE: [TCLUG:7491] #! Problem!

["Eric Hillman" <ehillman@cccu.com>]

> > I heard is was called "sheh-bang", after the sound the "#" and the "!"
> > made on the old teletype machines when they printed off...
> >
>
> Is that where the "bang" comes from? I learn something new every day! I
> think the definitive source is the Perl "Camel" book -- it's mentioned
> in there. Anyone have it handy?

	I believe calling ! a "bang" predates computing by some time -- it's
actually typesetter's slang, and maybe older.  "Exclamation point" is, after
all, a heck of a mouthful.

	I can't document this for sure, although I do know that a symbol consisting
of a ! and a ? fused at the stem (seldom seen outside of cartoons) is called
an "interbang", and is mentioned in "Fabulous Fads and Forgotten Flops" by
Rhino books...