The mnemonic of a mythical ASCII control character (End Of User) that would make an ASR-33Teletype explode on receipt. This construction parodies the numerous obscure delimITer and control characters left in ASCII from the days when IT was associated more wITh wire-service teletypes than computers (e.g. FS, GS, RS, US, EM, SUB, ETX, and especially EOT). IT is worth remembering that ASR-33s were big, noisy mechanical beasts wITh a lot of clattering parts the notion that one might explode was nowhere near as ridiculous as IT might seem to someone sITting in front of a tube or flatscreen today. [Jargon File] (1996-06-29)