Fat-finger

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Fat-finger is a term, generally used as a verb, in computer lingo which implies the unintentional inclusion of a keystroke. It is typically used in reference to command strokes (as opposed to simple typos found in text entries). It is most commonly exhibited when performing meta-key operations, such as [Ctrl-X, Ctrl-S] instead of simply [Ctrl-X, s], a typical save command in the emacs editor.

The name, though referencing largishness, more accurately reflects a sluggishness to remove a finger from a presently depressed key before striking another.

It is also a medical condition first discovered existing in Sam Marshall from Southowram in calderdale, there is currently no known cure. it causes horrific swelling in all the fingers of hands, it is believed to be non fatal although it is quite an embarrassing condition.

[edit] Example

I fat-fingered the Alt when I pressed F4 and accidentally killed the application. Hold on...

It is also the name given collectively to misspelled auction items found on eBay and other auction sites where users have inadvertantly submitted listings with misspelled words in the title. These can't be found using eBay's built-in search function and so get fewer bids. A series of third party web sites have sprung up allowing people to find these items including Fat Fingers.com, Missing-Auctions.com and AuctionSpeller.com.