etaoin shrdlu
[ et-ee-oin shurd-loo, -oh-in, ee-tee- ]
/ ˈɛt iˌɔɪn ˈʃɜrd lu, -ˌoʊ ɪn, ˈi ti- /
noun
the letters produced by running the finger down the first two vertical rows of keys at the left of the keyboard of a Linotype machine: used as a temporary marking slug or to indicate that an earlier mistake in the line necessitates resetting, but sometimes inadvertently cast and printed.
Origin of etaoin shrdlu
First recorded in 1955–60
Words nearby etaoin shrdlu
eta-c meson,
eta-c particle,
etaerio,
etalon,
etamine,
etaoin shrdlu,
etatism,
etc.,
etcetera,
etceteras,
etch