[Mythically, from the Latin semi-deponent verb quuxo, quuxare,
quuxandum iri; noun form variously `quux' (plural `quuces',
anglicized to `quuxes') and `quuxu' (genitive plural is `quuxuum',
for four u-letters out of seven in all, using up all the `u' letters
in Scrabble).]
1. Originally, a {metasyntactic variable} like {foo} and {foobar}.
Invented by Guy Steele for precisely this purpose when he was young
and naive and not yet interacting with the real computing community.
Many people invent such words; this one seems simply to have been
lucky enough to have spread a little. In an eloquent display of
poetic justice, it has returned to the originator in the form of a
nickname.
2. interj. See {foo}; however, denotes very little disgust, and is
uttered mostly for the sake of the sound of it.
3. Guy Steele in his persona as `The Great Quux', which is somewhat
infamous for light verse and for the `Crunchly' cartoons.
4. In some circles, used as a punning opposite of `crux'. "Ah, that's
the quux of the matter!" implies that the point is not crucial
(compare {tip of the ice-cube}).
5. quuxy: adj. Of or pertaining to a quux.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {foo}{metasyntactic variable}{qux}{waldo}]