Date:  Sat, 19 Nov 1994 15:23:54 -0800

From:  Birrell Walsh <birrell[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]WELL.SF.CA.US>

Subject: Re: metadata



On Sat, 19 Nov 1994 AAllan[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]AOL.COM wrote:



> *metadata* is a computer term meaning 'data about data'

> - so I was informed by Trish Porth of Mitre (?), who phoned to ask for

> information on the origin and early (pre-1980?) history of the word. She said

> it was supposedly first used by mapmakers.

> Ever heard of it? Does anyone have an early citation?

> Thanks - Allan Metcalf <AAllan[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]aol.com>

>



As a registered pedant, I wish people would learn a) that "meta" in Greek

means 'beside' not "over" or "about." And that neologisms like this are

donchaknow, neo...



Birrell