Iliff-King phrasebook Iliff-King phrasebook

subscribe
×

Enter your email address to receive an email notification of new entries to the phrasebook

You will receive no more than one a day. We will not use your email for any other purpose. Each email will include an unsubscribe link.

Note: You’ll receive a validation link, by email, soon after submitting. The subscription won’t begin until you click it. Please don’t try a spoof email address. It’s your own time you’ll be wasting.

Search resultsClose

definition

parroty error expression or saying

When your parrot says “pieces of seven”

Origin

Computer nerd riff on parity error

Collector

M & N – 1980s
Mark & Naomi

Notes

It’s an error detection measure. Of the 8 bits¹ in a byte, 7 carry information whilst the only role of the 8ᵗʰ is to make the total number of 1s in the byte even². The integrity of the byte can then be checked by counting the 1s.

Meanwhile, parrots are reputed to be fond of saying “pieces of eight”.

¹binary digits, 0s or 1s
²or odd, according to system

Submitted: 01/03/2022 by Mark ● Last updated: 22/01/2024 12:10 by Mark

any thoughts?

Comments are reviewed before publication for taste and relevance. Spam is not published (even if you’re the waste of DNA who has tried literally thousands of times)







To be notified when your comment is published, enter your email. It will not be published or used for any other purpose without your permission:



/phrase/word.php 520
521 519