Legislatures also get into the act of naming to create an acronym. Although the term is only used in specialized circles, it really has become its word there. Years ago, programmers referred to large database objects as LOBs, and Binary Large Objects as BLOBs (originally all caps, but now frequently referred to in lower case as blobs). For example, they currently use SOAP (simple object access protocols) for internet traffic. Creating an acronym out of a common word seems to be a favorite of computer scientists. I think it is interesting to look at the reverse phenomena: how an otherwise common word becomes an acronym. I refer to them as maws (matriculated acronystic words), which reuses an otherwise rarely used three-letter word (how often does the stomach of a ruminant come up in everyday conversation?), and makes a nice pun on English' propensity to easily digest and swallow up words, whatever their source. Arguably the most commonly borrowed English word, "ok" is generally considered an acronym for the slang phrase "orl korrect". Some terms, such as AWOL, seem to be stuck in between- they are almost used as words, but equally almost always capitalized. Army reference (situation normal - all f'ed up"), and fad is purportedly originally an acronym for "for a day". The word snafu, for example, was originally an obscene U.S. There are many common examples which are older than laser.
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