1. Like doorstop but more severe; implies that the offending
hardware is irreversibly dead or useless. "That was a working
motherboard once. One lightning strike later, instant boat
anchor!"
2. A person who just takes up space.
3. Obsolete but still working hardware, especially when used
of an old S100-bus hobbyist system; originally a term of
annoyance, but became more and more affectionate as the
hardware became more and more obsolete.
[Jargon File]
Nearby terms:
BOA « boa « board « boat anchor » Bob » Bobo the Webmonkey » BOCS
