slipstick
Noun: * A handheld mechanical analog computer: A "slipstick" is a tool, historically used for complex calculations, consisting of graduated scales that slide against each other. It has been almost entirely replaced by electronic calculators and computers.
The word "slipstick" is an informal, somewhat dated term for a slide rule. It is used to refer to the physical object itself or to the skill of using one. * Before the invention of the pocket calculator, every engineering student learned to use a slipstick. * He could perform complex multiplications on his trusty slipstick faster than others could with paper and pencil.
- As a symbol of a bygone era: The term can be used to evoke a pre-digital technological period.
- The museum's exhibit on 20th-century engineering featured several well-worn slipsticks.
- Slide rule (n): The standard and more formal term for a "slipstick." This is the term most commonly found in historical and technical texts.
- Slide rule (n): The direct and primary synonym.
- Analog calculator (n): A more general descriptive term.
The term "slipstick" is a colloquialism formed from the action of the tool: the scales slip or slide against each other (like a stick). It carries a connotation of practicality and hands-on skill, often used affectionately by those who were proficient with it. Its use today is almost exclusively historical or nostalgic.
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analog computer consisting of a handheld instrument used for rapid calculations; have been replaced by pocket calculators
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