Yes, it's
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A leaky acronym is an acronym used in partially expanded form, with the acronym itself left intact. The canonical example is "PIN number": The "N" in "PIN" stands for "Number", but the acronym has leaked and you're really reading "Personal Identification Number number". Some earth-dwellers call these "redundant acronyms" but Avaragado prefers to call them "leaky acronyms", and so do you.
More specifically, in Avaragado's superior terminology, "PIN number" is a Post-Leaky Acronym. It's "Post" because the acronym leaks from the right-hand end. Another example is "WTS Server" (Windows Terminal Server Server).
You can also get Pre-Leaky Acronyms, such as "Acorn ARM" before the A was retconned into Advanced a hundred years ago. Avaragado is pretty sure there was a "Tarantella TSP" somewhere in the web site of his previous employer, now engulfed by Sun.
Some Avaragado acolytes have spotted Mid-Leaky Acronyms: "Intel IA64 Architecture" leaks both the I (pre-leaky) and the A (mid-leaky).
The ultimate leaky acronym occurs when you have complete acronym breakdown, such as with the hugely leaky "Surface-to-Air SAM Missile", a term which Avaragado is sure "president" Dubya is familiar with.
Other examples:
Example |
Notes |
|---|---|
Built on NT technology |
NT stands for New Technology (allegedly). This particular example occurs in the Windows 2000 login screen. |
HIV virus |
Human Immunodeficiency Virus virus. Probably as popular a leaky acronym as PIN number. |
ATM machine |
Automated Teller Machine machine. |
LCD display |
Liquid Crystal Display display. |
TCP/IP protocol |
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol protocol. |
HTTP protocol |
Hypertext Transfer Protocol protocol. |
EAP program |
Early Access Program program. (Or "programme" in English.) |
FAQ question |
Frequently Asked Question question. |
RAID array |
Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks array. Ooh, mid-leaky! |
PERL language |
Practical Extraction and Reporting Language language. |
PAC code |
Porting Authorisation Code code. |
Avaragado would be delighted to receive more examples to add to his collection. Email them to the obvious place.