Anorak

/ˈæn.ə.ræk/ · Noun · Hacker Culture

Definitions

  1. British slang for an obsessive enthusiast or nerd — especially one fixated on a niche technical subject like train schedules, radio frequencies, or obscure programming languages. The term derives from the stereotypical anorak jacket worn by trainspotters standing on cold platforms.

    In plain English: A British term for someone who is intensely obsessed with a niche or technical hobby, similar to calling someone a nerd or geek.

    Example: "He's a complete anorak about POSIX compliance — he'll lecture you for an hour on the difference between /bin/sh and /bin/bash."

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