Ports and Bays

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Chris Tsao - 09 Jan 2007 11:38 GMT

I call the holes on computers, TV's, DVD players, printers and VCRs
that you plug cables, headphones, adapters, flashdrives etc. into ports
and bays. What else can I call them? It's good to know every word in
English for them.

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Chris Tsao - 09 Jan 2007 11:49 GMT

> I call the holes on computers, TV's, DVD players, printers and VCRs
> that you plug cables, headphones, adapters, flashdrives etc. into ports
> and bays. What else can I call them? It's good to know every word in
> English for them.

I came back here to read what I typed above and saw a sponcered (sp.)
Google link and clicked on it and got "input."

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Peter Duncanson - 09 Jan 2007 12:40 GMT

>> I call the holes on computers, TV's, DVD players, printers and VCRs
>> that you plug cables, headphones, adapters, flashdrives etc. into ports
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>I came back here to read what I typed above and saw a sponcered (sp.)
>Google link and clicked on it and got "input."

The general term for a connector into which you plug cables at the
front or back of a computer, etc. is "socket".

Some of these sockets are for input and some are for output.

Signature

Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)

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John Varela - 09 Jan 2007 21:21 GMT

>>> I call the holes on computers, TV's, DVD players, printers and VCRs
>>> that you plug cables, headphones, adapters, flashdrives etc. into ports
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Some of these sockets are for input and some are for output.

In American usage, a socket that is on the end of a cord is a plug. A socket
that is mounted rigidly on a wall or a piece of equipment is a jack. The
word the OP wants is jack. Unless it supplies electrical power, in which
case it's an outlet.

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John Varela
Trade NEW lamps for OLD for email.

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Flying Tortoise - 10 Jan 2007 17:48 GMT

> >>> I call the holes on computers, TV's, DVD players, printers and VCRs
> >>> that you plug cables, headphones, adapters, flashdrives etc. into ports
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> John Varela
> Trade NEW lamps for OLD for email.

"Jack" applies to one pin sockets only IIRC

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mike.j.harvey@gmail.com - 10 Jan 2007 18:01 GMT

> > In American usage, a socket that is on the end of a cord is a plug. A socket
> > that is mounted rigidly on a wall or a piece of equipment is a jack. The
> > word the OP wants is jack. Unless it supplies electrical power, in which
> > case it's an outlet.
>
> "Jack" applies to one pin sockets only IIRC

In UK usage a 'jack' or 'jack plug' is the male connector on the end of
the lead, and a 'jack socket' is a female socket mounted on a wall or
panel. There is also an 'inline jack socket' which is a cylindrical
affair on the end of a lead with a jack socket on the end of it.

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Peter Duncanson - 10 Jan 2007 20:56 GMT

>> > In American usage, a socket that is on the end of a cord is a plug. A socket
>> > that is mounted rigidly on a wall or a piece of equipment is a jack. The
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>panel. There is also an 'inline jack socket' which is a cylindrical
>affair on the end of a lead with a jack socket on the end of it.

Yes.

We need to distinguish between the technical and the non-technical
terms for connectors.

Non-technical:

I've looked at the (UK) instruction booklets for various devices:
TVs, DVD players, VCRs, digital TV boxes, computers, kitchen
appliances, etc.

From what I've seen they always use "socket" to mean a connector on
the panel or case of a device, and "plug" to mean a connector on the
end of a cable.

Technical:

Technical terminology is more specific and can be the opposite of
the non-technical. A connector with pins is a plug regardless of
whether it is chassis mounted or on the end of a cable. A connector
with holes for pins to fit into is a socket, again regardless of
whether it is chassis mounted or on the end of a cable.

There are many different types of plugs and sockets, with different
designs for different purposes.

Signature

Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)

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John Varela - 11 Jan 2007 00:07 GMT

> "Jack" applies to one pin sockets only IIRC

When I worked in an engineering department at Sperry we called any fixed
connector, male or female, any number of pins, a "jack". A connector on a
cord, male or female, was a "plug". Wiring diagrams labeled them J1, J2,
J3... and P1, P2, P3...

Signature

John Varela
Trade NEW lamps for OLD for email.

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Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2007

Ports and Bays