English

Etymology
Perhaps from British military slang, possibly based on Scots word term|kludge or term|kludgie||common toilet or from the German term|klug||clever; possibly related to Polish and Russian term|klucz||a key, a hint, a main point

There is evidence that term|kluge was once a separate word with similar meaning but separate derivation, but the spelling term|kludge was widely popularized in the U.S. by a 1962 w:Datamation|Datamation article, �How to Design a Kludge�.

Pronunciation
IPA|/kl�d�/|/klu�/, SAMPA|/klVdZ/|/kluZ/
:Rhymes: Rhymes:English:-�d�|-�d�

Noun
en-noun
wikipedia

1. context|electronics engineering an improvised device, usually crudely constructed. Typically used to test the validity of a principle before doing a finished design.
2. context|general any construction or practice, typically inelegant, designed to solve a problem temporarily or expediently
3. software an amalgamated mass of totally unrelated parts forming a distressing whole [from the Datamation article mentioned in the Usage Note below]

Verb
en-verb|kludges|kludged|kludged|kludging

1. to build or use a kludge

Usage notes
kluge-Usage note

Related terms
kludgy

ru:kludge
vi:kludge
zh:kludge

• 2008-01-01 23:55 - 4.152.3.185 - /* Pronunciation */

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