fred

   1.  The  personal  name  most  frequently  used  as  a {metasyntactic
   variable}  (see  {foo}).  Allegedly  popular  because it's easy for a
   non-touch-typist  to  type  on  a  standard QWERTY keyboard. In Great
   Britain,   `fred',   `jim'  and  `sheila'  are  common  metasyntactic
   variables  because their uppercase versions were official names given
   to  the  3  memory  areas  that  held  I/O  status  registers  on the
   lovingly-remembered  BBC  Microcomputer!  (It is reported that SHEILA
   was  poked  the  most  often.) Unlike {J. Random Hacker} or J. Random
   Loser,  the  name `fred' has no positive or negative loading (but see
   {Dr. Fred Mbogo}). See also {barney}.

   2.  An  acronym  for  `Flipping  Ridiculous Electronic Device'; other
   F-verbs may be substituted for `flipping'.

[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {barney}{Dr. Fred Mbogo}{foo}{metasyntactic variable}]