Dongle

Not only does this computer term sound weird, it has two different meanings: One definition refers to a little hardware key that plugs into the serial port or parallel port of a computer. The purpose of it is to ensure that only authorized users can copy or use certain software applications. If you have never seen a dongle, don't be surprised. They're only used with ultra-expensive, high-end software programs that most people have never heard of, much less need to use. When the high-priced program runs, it checks the dongle for verification before continuing. If it doesn't find the dongle, the computer explodes. Well, not really -- the program usually just quits. If more than one application requires a dongle, multiple dongles using the same port can be daisy-chained together. Basically, if you ever find yourself daisy-chaining multiple dongles together, you know you must be doing pretty well in life. 2. The word "dongle" can also be used to describe the little connector that goes from a PC card in a laptop computer to an Ethernet cable. Since most PC (or PCMCIA) network interface cards are too small to connect directly to a standard RJ-45 Ethernet cable, they need to have a little adapter that connects the card to the cable. This adapter, which you probably use if you have an Ethernet card in your laptop, is called a dongle. (Some 3Com cards use an X-Jack connector, which allows the cable to connect directly to the card). As far as why the name dongle is used, I have no idea.