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January 11, 2004
Kluge Kludge
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Kluge is German for 'intelligent' or 'clever'.
Kludgie is old Scots for 'outside toilet'.
The two words have been combined in modern English (spelled both 'kluge' and 'kludge') to mean 'an ad hoc, cleverly made, though clumsy solution'. The term suggests a Rube Goldberg-type contraption, sort of like what Wallace would make, but more hastily put together, especially in response to a sudden need for a solution when resources are not available. When the Apollo 13 team managed to repair the craft using only available materials, that was a Kluge Extraordinaire.
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Posted by mslaybau at January 11, 2004 12:50 PM