Related:

• high bit n. [from `high-order bit'] 1. The most significant bit in a byte.
  2. [common] By extension, the most significant part of something other than a data byte...
• hobbit: n. 1. The High Order Bit of a byte; same as the {meta bit} or {high bit}.
  2. The non-ITS name of vad@ai.mit.edu (*Hobbit*), master of lasers....
• hobbit n. 1. [rare] The High Order BIT of a byte
  ame as the meta bit or high bit. 2. The non-ITS name of vad@ai....
• dread high-bit disease: n. A condition endemic to PRIME (a.
  k.a. PR1ME) minicomputers that results in all the characters having their high (0x80) bit ON rather than OFF....
• dread high-bit disease n. A condition endemic to some now-obsolete computers and peripherals (including ASR-33 teletypes and PRIME minicomputers) that results in all characters having their high (0x80) bit forced on.
  This of course makes transporting files to other systems much more difficult, not to mention the problems these machines have talking with true 8-bit devices....
• meta bit: n. The top bit of an 8-bit character, which is on in character values 128--255.
  Also called {high bit}, {alt bit}, or {hobbit}....
• frogging [University of Waterloo] v. 1. Partial corruption of a text file or input stream by some bug or consistent glitch, as opposed to random events like line noise or media failures.
  Might occur, for example, if one bit of each incoming character on a tty were stuck, so that some characters were correct and others were not....
• enior bit: [IBM] n. Syn. {meta bit}. -- The AI Hackers Dictionary
• cretinous: /kret'n-*s/ or /kreet'n-*s/ adj. Wrong; stupid
  non-functional; very poorly designed. Also used pejoratively of people....