[ih] Fwd: nomenclature

[Vint Cerf]

steve may have the best explanation; as I recall, it was sort of a  
combination
of the notion of a host (at an event - providing for the attendees/ 
users)
and "host" in the sense of  biological host to a parasite (!).

vint


On Dec 23, 2009, at 12:47 PM, Dave CROCKER wrote:

> Folks,
>
> Howdy.
>
> This popped up on a list I track.
>
> I remember that the term 'host' was one of the bits of mind-share  
> that the Arpanet created..  But I don't recall hearing why that  
> particular term was chosen.
>
> Do any of you remember why?
>
> Bonus points for any additional background on the who and how.
>
> Thanks.
>
> d/
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject: nomenclature
> Date: Wed, 23 Dec 2009 11:48:57 -0500
>
> So, someone asked me the other day why computers were called  
> 'hosts'. I
> gave some silly, half-mumbled answer about how they "host" software
> applications, but I've been reading this interesting, if somewhat dry,
> book (The Horse, the Wheel, and Language) about the development of the
> European and South Asian languages from Proto-Indo European, which  
> has a
> "*ghosti" precursor word (which means roughly "the guest/host
> hospitality obligation relationship") and it got me wondering again.
>
> Anyone have a better answer for me? Why are computers called "hosts"?
>
> -- 
>
>  Dave Crocker
>  Brandenburg InternetWorking
>  bbiw.net