Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A flashing light or beacon light.
  • noun A status light on a electronic or electric device such as a modem, router, network hub, and so forth.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Originally a spoof on German blinken ("blink, flash") and German Licht ("Light") for English blinking English lights; equivalent to blink +‎ light

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Examples

  • In general, computers have long since become too fast for blinkenlight displays to be of much use in debugging problems, but both movie makers and computer enthusiasts have had a hard time letting go of these iconic symbols of computer power — the Jurrasic Park movie is a classic example their combined efforts, where a Connection Machine supercomputer ripples with red LED blinkenlights.

    This Day In Science Fiction History: The Birth of Blinkenlights 2009

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