trit
/trit/ (By analogy with "{bit}") One base-3 digit; the
amount of information conveyed by a selection among one of
three equally likely outcomes. Trits arise, for example, in
the context of a {flag} that should actually be able to assume
▫three▫ values - such as yes, no, or unknown. Trits are
sometimes jokingly called "3-state bits". A trit may be
semi-seriously referred to as "a bit and a half", although it
is linearly equivalent to 1.5849625 bits (that is, log2(3)
bits).
[{Jargon File}]
(1995-05-11)