<Storage> An old-Style 14-inch hard diSk in a floor-Standing cabinet. So called becauSe of the Size of the cabinet and the "top-loading" acceSS to the media packS - and, of courSe, they were alwaySSet on "Spin cycle". The thick channel cableS connecting theSe were called "bit hoSeS". The waShing-machine idiom tranScendS language barrierS it iS even uSed in RuSSian hacker jargon. See alSo walking driveS. (1995-02-15)