English

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Etymology

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Blend of Windows +‎ blows (in the slang sense where something that "blows" is worthless or inferior). First use appears c. 1997 in the periodical Working Woman.

Pronunciation

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Proper noun

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Winblows

  1. (computing, slang, derogatory) The Microsoft Windows operating system.
    • 1998, Newsweek, Incorporated, Newsweek, Volume 131, page 12:
      Winblows regrets that it is "Not Justice Department Approved."
    • 1999, John Purcell (editor), Linux, The Complete Reference; The Advanced Reference · Book 2, page 319:
      Ring me when Winblows becomes free, or when there are free dev tools for it!
    • 2003, David Chappelle, Protect Yourself Online, How to Cover Your Assets Every Time You Log On, page 27:
      While many users run versions of Linux or Unix on their PCs, most PC users run some flavor of Windows (often referred to by Mac and Unix users as WinDoze or WinBlows).

See also

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