Feature key
hardware
(Or “flower”, “pretzel”, “clover”, “propeller”, “beanie” (from propeller beanie), splat, “command key”) The Macintosh modifier key with the four-leaf clover graphic on its keytop.
The feature key is the Mac’s equivalent of a control key (and so labelled on some Mac II keyboards). The proliferation of terms for this creature may illustrate one subtle peril of iconic interfaces. Macs also have an “Option” modifier key, equivalent to Alt.
The cloverleaf-like symbol’s oldest name is “cross of St. Hannes”, but it occurs in pre-Christian Viking art as a decorative motif. In Scandinavia it marks sites of historical interest. An early Macintosh developer who happened to be Swedish introduced it to Apple. Apple documentation gives the translation “interesting feature”.
The symbol has a Unicode character called “PLACE OF INTEREST SIGN” (U+2318), previously known as “command key”.
The Swedish name of this symbol stands for the word “sev”ardhet” (interesting feature), many of which are old churches. Some Swedes report as an idiom for it the word “kyrka”, cognate to English “church” and Scots-dialect “kirk” but pronounced /shir’k*/ in modern Swedish. Others say this is nonsense.
(http://fileformat.info/info/unicode/char/2318/index.htm).
[Jargon File]
(2005-09-15)
Read Also:
- Feature-length
[fee-cher-length] /ˈfi tʃərˈlɛŋθ/ adjective 1. long enough to be made a feature; of full length: a feature-length story; a feature-length film. adjective 1. (of a film or programme) similar in extent to a feature although not classed as such
- Featureless
[fee-cher-lis] /ˈfi tʃər lɪs/ adjective 1. without distinctive ; uninteresting, plain, or drab: a featureless landscape. /ˈfiːtʃəlɪs/ adjective 1. without distinctive points or qualities; undistinguished
- Features
[fee-cher] /ˈfi tʃər/ noun 1. a prominent or conspicuous part or characteristic: Tall buildings were a new feature on the skyline. 2. something offered as a special attraction: This model has several added features. 3. Also called feature film. the main motion picture in a movie program: What time is the feature? 4. any part […]
- Feature shock
jargon (From Alvin Toffler’s “Future Shock”) A user’s confusion when confronted with a package that has too many features and poor introductory material. [Jargon File] (2005-09-15)
- Feature-story
noun 1. a newspaper or magazine article or report of a person, event, an aspect of a major event, or the like, often having a personal slant and written in an individual style. Compare (def 3b), , . 2. the main or most prominent story in a magazine.