Etymology:
The word "ping" is derived from the sound made by sonar devices used in submarines to detect underwater objects.
Meaning:
Origin:
1. Sound:
The word "ping" was first used to describe the sound made by sonar devices during World War II. These devices emitted a high-pitched sound wave and listened for the reflection from underwater objects. The duration and frequency of the returning "ping" could determine the distance and size of the object.
2. Computer Technology:
In the 1980s, the term "ping" was adopted in computing to refer to a small data packet sent to a computer or device on a network. The ping request contains a sequence of bits that the receiving device must respond to. By sending a ping request, a user can test whether the device is reachable and determine its response time.
Usage:
Today, the word "ping" is widely used in both its original sense (as the sound made by sonar) and its computing sense (as a network diagnostic tool). In computing, the verb "to ping" is used to describe the act of sending a ping request.
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