UN*X

n. Used to refer to the UNIX operating system (a trademark of AT&T) in writing, but avoiding the need for the ugly ™ typography.

Also used to refer to any or all varieties of Unixoid operating systems. Ironically, lawyers now say (1990) that the requirement for the TM-postfix has no legal force, but the asterisk usage is entrenched anyhow. It has been suggested that there may be a psychological connection to practice in certain religions (especially Judaism) in which the name of the deity is never written out in full, e.g., 'YHWH' or 'G-d' is used.

See also glob.