welfare

adj : of or relating to a welfare state [syn: {welfarist}, {welfare(a)},

{welfare-statist}]

n 1: governmental provision of economic assistance to persons in

need [syn: {social welfare}]

2: something that aids or promotes well-being: "for the common

good" [syn: {benefit}]

3: the state of being happy and healthy and prosperous; "the

town was finally on the upbeat after our recent troubles"

[syn: {well-being}, {upbeat}] [ant: {ill-being}]

wetware

/wet'weir/ (Probably from the novels of Rudy Rucker,

or maybe Stanislav Lem) The human nervous system, as opposed

to electronic computer {hardware} or {software}. "Wetware has

7 plus or minus 2 temporary {register}s." Also, human beings

(programmers, operators, administrators) attached to a

computer system, as opposed to the system's hardware or

software.

See {liveware}, {meatware}.

[True origin? Dates?]

[{Jargon File}]

(1996-08-19)