endian

end i an |ˈendēən ˈɛndiən | ▶adjective Computing denoting or relating to a system of ordering data in a computer's memory whereby the most significant (big-endian ) or least significant (little-endian ) byte is put first. ORIGIN 1980s: a reference to Swift's Gulliver's Travels, in which the Lilliputians were divided into two camps, those who ate their eggs by opening the ‘big ’ end and those who ate them by opening the ‘little ’ end.

endian

end ¦ian |ˈɛndɪən | ▶adjective (usu. in phrase big-endian or little-endian ) Computing denoting or relating to a system of ordering bytes in a word, or bits in a byte, in which the most significant (or least significant ) item is put first. ORIGIN 1980s: from Swift's Gulliver's Travels, in which big-endians and little-endians ate boiled eggs by breaking the ‘big ’ end or ‘little ’ end respectively.