/frob/ 1. [MIT] The TMRC definition was "FROB = a
protruding arm or trunnion"; by metaphoric extension, a "frob"
is any random small thing; an object that you can comfortably
hold in one hand; something you can frob (sense 2). See
frobnitz.
2. Abbreviated form of frobnicate.
3. [MUD] A command on some MUDs that changes a player's
experience level (this can be used to make wizards); also, to
request wizard privileges on the "professional courtesy"
grounds that one is a wizard elsewhere. The command is
actually "frobnicate" but is universally abbreviated to the
shorter form.
[Jargon File]
frob
an unsepcified physical object, generally small. synonymous with widget. also a verb, genearlly any action performed on a frob can be considered frobbing the object. It has a frob for controlling the pressure. (verb) I need to frob the volume knob - it's too quiet in here.
frobnicate
1. To munge; to process in an unspecified but vaguely complicated way. 2. To screw up in a particularly convoluted or elegant manner. See also: Frobnicator I'm not sure how that program works; all I know is it frobnicates whatever you type in so you can't read it anymore.