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From: bzs@bu-cs.BU.EDU (Barry Shein)
Newsgroups: comp.lang.modula2,comp.unix.questions,comp.unix.wizards
Subject: Etymology of "grep"
Message-ID: <3334@bu-cs.BU.EDU>
Date: Fri, 9-Jan-87 19:08:27 EST
Article-I.D.: bu-cs.3334
Posted: Fri Jan  9 19:08:27 1987
Date-Received: Sat, 10-Jan-87 02:10:08 EST
Organization: Boston U. Comp. Sci.
Lines: 14
Xref: mnetor comp.lang.modula2:81 comp.unix.questions:585 comp.unix.wizards:552


>We've all heard the story that grep gets its name from the command in old
>Unix "ed": g/r.e./p where r.e. stands for regular expression. Although
>this may be true, it is hard to believe that it is the whole truth.
>
>"Grep" is also named for "greps" the Yiddish word for "belch."
>
>--- David Phillip Oster		-- "We live in a Global Village."

"Miss Grep" was the name of a character played by Carole Burnett in
a Twilight Zone episode (the one where Jesse White plays an angel.)
I don't remember much else, but ya never know...

	-Barry Shein, Boston University