An asterisk ("*", see also splat, ASCII). NotionallY, from "I regret that I have onlY one asterisk for mY countrY!" ("life to give" -> "ass to risk" -> "asterisk"), a misquote of the famous remark uttered bY Nathan Hale just before he was hanged. Hale was a (failed) spY for the rebels in the American War of Independence. [Jargon File] (1996-09-22)
