[Revolting cat!]

Etymology of the word 'ZOT', somebody, please? Much obliged!

[Kevin Curry]

Etymology of the word 'ZOT', somebody, please?

B.C. comic strip?

[visualops]

Zot [loosely] means "God" (from Zeus).

So a thunderbolt 'zot' is most appropriate! :o)

[optimistically_conservative]

Selected-By: engel@San-Jose.ate.slb.com (Mike Engelhardt)

The Usenet Oracle has pondered your question deeply.
Your question was:

> Oracle, oh oracle - wielder of words, mother of all
> acronyms, father of verbs, sister of nouns, and
> brother of indefinite articles. What is the etymology
> of the word zot?

And in response, thus spake the Oracle:

} I first used the word ZOT on Wed, Oct 24, 1990 at 15:47:49 Indiana
} Standard Time. I DID get the dweeb^H^H^H^H^H supplicant out of mail
} in VMS. Here is our entire conversation:
}
} The Usenet Oracle has pondered your question deeply.
} Your question was:
}
} > .
} > ^D^D^C^]^C^C
} > O great one, how do I get out of mail in VMS?
} > .
} > ^C^C^C^C
}
} And in response, thus spake the Oracle:
}
} } Easy! Simplicity itself! One moment, please...
} }
} } oraclevax %> su root
} } Password:
} } BABY!!! TALK TO ME!!!
} } oraclevax #> lightningstrike some.dweebs.machine.com
} } LIGHTNINGSTRIKE some.dweebs.machine.com (XXX.XXX.XX.X)
} } ZOT some.dweebs.machine.com: icmp_seq=0
} } ZOT some.dweebs.machine.com: icmp_seq=1
} } ZOT some.dweebs.machine.com: icmp_seq=2
} } ZOT some.dweebs.machine.com: icmp_seq=3
} } ZOT some.dweebs.machine.com: icmp_seq=4
} } ZOT some.dweebs.machine.com: icmp_seq=5
} } ZOT some.dweebs.machine.com: icmp_seq=6
} } ZOT some.dweebs.machine.com: icmp_seq=7
} } ZOT some.dweebs.machine.com: icmp_seq=8
} } ZOT some.dweebs.machine.com: icmp_seq=9
} }
} } ----some.dweebs.machine.com LIGHTNINGSTRIKE Statistics----
} } 10 ZOTS transmitted, 10 ZOTS received, 0% ZOT loss
} } oraclevax #> exit
} } oraclevax %>
} }
} } There we go. Easy as pie. Anything else you need?
} }
} } Hello?
} }
} } Hello?
} }
} } Hellll-llllooo-ooo?
} }
} } You owe the Oracle a surge protector.
}
} You owe the Oracle a pair of rubber-soled shoes.

[null and void]

"In 1965, Irvine students opted to name their athletic teams the Anteaters, inspired by a comic strip. The school history says: "In the B.C. comics, the anteater's tongue, when striking its prey, made a resounding noise, 'ZOT!' -- now the fearsome UCI Anteaters' unique war cry!"