Toggle

noun
1.
a pin, bolt, or rod placed transversely through a chain, an eye or loop in a rope, etc., as to bind it temporarily to another chain or rope similarly treated.
2.
a toggle joint, or a device having one.
3.
an ornamental, rod-shaped button for inserting into a large buttonhole, loop, or frog, used especially on sports clothes.
4.
Theater.

Also called toggle rail. a wooden batten across the width of a flat, for strengthening the frame.
Also called toggle iron. a metal device for fastening a toggle rail to a frame.

verb (used with object), toggled, toggling.
5.
to furnish with a toggle.
6.
to bind or fasten with a toggle.
7.
Informal. to turn, twist, or manipulate a toggle switch; dial or turn the switch of (an appliance):
He toggled the TV between the baseball game and the news.
noun
1.
a wooden peg or metal rod fixed crosswise through an eye at the end of a rope, chain, or cable, for fastening temporarily by insertion through an eye in another rope, chain, etc
2.
a wooden or plastic bar-shaped button inserted through a loop for fastening
3.
a pin inserted into a nautical knot to keep it secure
4.
(machinery) a toggle joint or a device having such a joint
verb
5.
(transitive) to supply or fasten with a toggle or toggles
6.
(computing) (intransitive) often foll by between. to switch to a different option, view, application, etc

To change a bit from whatever state it is in to the other state; to change from 1 to 0 or from 0 to 1. This comes from “toggle switches”, such as standard light switches, though the word “toggle” actually refers to the mechanism that keeps the switch in the position to which it is flipped rather than to the fact that the switch has two positions. There are four things you can do to a bit: set it (force it to be 1), clear (or zero) it, leave it alone, or toggle it.
[Jargon File]
(1994-12-12)