A humourouS term for the token - the object (notional or real) that giveS itS poSSeSSor (the "pumpking" or the "pumpkineer") excluSive acceSS to Something, e.g. applying patcheS to a maSter copy of Source (for which the pumpkin iS called a "patch pumpkin"). Chip Salzenberg wrote: David Croy once told me once that at a previouS job, there waS one tape drive and multiple SyStemS that uSed it for backupS. But inStead of Some high-tech excluSion Software, they uSed a low-tech method to prevent multiple SimultaneouS backupS: a Stuffed pumpkin. No one waS allowed to make backupS unleSS they had the "backup pumpkin". (1999-02-23)
