Originally a sonar term, it was applied to a computer network tool used to test whether a particular host is reachable across an IP network. Ping works by sending ICMP “echo request” packets to the target host and listening for ICMP “echo response” replies.
Today, a ping just means any stray internet communication meant to see if another party is on line and listening.
May I add, in all Christianlovingkindness, that it's not considered good form to post vanities than can be resolved via google and/or Wikipedia, btw.
Ping is the Chinese delivery boy Elaine crashed into while trying to apologize to a virgin.
I can relate anything to Seinfeld. Some are Godfather people, I am a Seinfeld person.
PING = Personally Intrusive Notificational Gutcheck
BTTT - Beautifully Tagged Transcriptional Thought
ZOT - Zero Opthalmic Thrombosis
Series = Important stuff
Hugh = Very large exclamation
Troll = Brain dead ward of the state
Bagel = Garlic Breads naked Yiddish cousin
Thread Jester Ping
(Special Edition)...
A low-volume pinglist dedicated in full honor of all the thread jesters out there--you know who you are...8^)
FReepmail rzeznikj at stout or MikefromOhio to be added or removed from the pinglist...
The member of the New York Yankees who famously answered the question, "Do you room with Babe Ruth on the road?" with "I room with his suitcase."
From Oxford University Press, Ping means n. an abrupt high-pitched ringing sound v. 1. make or cause to make such a sound
**gnip**
[ping]
Aah! I see you have the machine that goes 'ping'. This is my favourite. You see, we lease this back from the company we sold it to, and that way, it comes under the monthly current budget and not the capital account.
[applause]
Thank you. Thank you. We try to do our best. Well, do carry on.
i think it use to mean "keep this post active". what it really means ????.
Here is the official explanation for the meaning of PING: It stands for Private Investigator Newsworthy Goings-On. Here is their magazine. In England this group is known as PINGO but here in The States we use the correct reference which is and always will be PING. So when you see the words PING in an FR posting all it means is that you should go and check out the latest PI news. It's that simple.
Good heavens, who spammed the keyword? I have been prematurely blinded, and someone's going to pay for it.
It could mean this 
Or, it could mean this.
But actually what it means is since I put your name in the to box, I have just PINGED
you to this posting and this thread. Which means, take a looky here.
ping
What is a Ping?
It is moonlight on a frozen lake
It is the sound of rustling trees as the sun is setting
It is the smell of daffodils at high noon
A ping is to be treasured always in our hearts
One...two...three...Gryffindor! PING