# Etymology of "ping" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 6, 2013, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161 "2013-03-06T06:00:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![redtail23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/3e96dc/32.png) [@redtail23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/redtail23)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/21 "2013-03-06T15:31:40Z")
> [@DataX](#): > > The business ping usage came about before my eyes - started out almost jokingly - and by those that would have known the utility. It was quite obvious that was what was going on. And it got bigger from there. Same here. I remember when “ping” was only used by geeks in reference to the network utility. Then they started using it to/in reference to people. Then business people picked it up from them. I’ve no doubt there are folks out there who use “ping” without any idea (or with mistaken ideas) of where it came from. > [@CookingWithGas](#): > > Imagine Dilbert saying to Wally, “Ping me when your code is ready to test.” They know the ping utility, and how this applies to humans would be immediately clear. > > The pointy-haired boss overhears. He has no idea what they mean but thinks it sounds really cool so he starts saying it. Exactly. I’ll have to think about your larger question. I’m almost positive more of these exist, but I can’t think of a specific one at the moment. I hate that “tip of the tongue” thing. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/22 "2013-03-06T15:33:50Z")
So, whenabouts did “ping” enter the common vernacular? I’ve been aware of the utility since around 1993 or so, but I don’t remember hearing it in a colloquial context until maybe 5 years ago, and that’s from my wife who was a computer science student at the time. I guess I probably have heard it from non-tech types since, but I can’t say for certain. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/23 "2013-03-06T15:41:18Z")
I’m shocked that we’ve come this far in this thread with no obligatory _Hunt for Red October_ references. “Give me a ping, Vasili. _One ping only_, please.” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/24 "2013-03-06T15:50:00Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I’m shocked that we’ve come this far in this thread with no obligatory _Hunt for Red October_ references. > > “Give me a ping, Vasili. _One ping only_, please.” Yeah, that’s where I first became familiar with it. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/25 "2013-03-06T16:02:13Z")
[Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyage_to_the_Bottom_of_the_Sea_%28TV_series%29) was constantly Pinging things all over the damn place every week on TV. You know TV, that huge box with the little tube that sat in your living room across from your dad; the one you had to get up and physically change channels and adjust the antenna. I was pinging other kids by phone back in the sixties. The real phone, the one that was only used for talking and was connected by a cord to the kitchen wall while your mom or younger brother listened in on from around the corner/across the room. ---
**Author:** ![bababadalgharagh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@bababadalgharagh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bababadalgharagh)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/26 "2013-03-06T17:59:57Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > I also think this is unique in the sense that most non-techies who use the word don’t know where it came from. At least, most people would look at me funny if I said that we should pong someone back. > > I’m trying to think of other examples but I can’t come up with any. Yeah, I actually think this might be fairly unique, that’s why I asked the question. ---
**Author:** ![bababadalgharagh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@bababadalgharagh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bababadalgharagh)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/27 "2013-03-06T18:10:25Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > I was pinging other kids by phone back in the sixties. But you didn’t actually use the word “ping” at the time to describe what you were doing, did you? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/28 "2013-03-06T18:19:10Z")
> [@bababadalgharagh](#): > > But you didn’t actually use the word “ping” at the time to describe what you were doing, did you? Well, I think that’s what he was implying. Otherwise why would he say it? ---
**Author:** ![bababadalgharagh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@bababadalgharagh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bababadalgharagh)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/29 "2013-03-06T18:29:51Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Well, I think that’s what he was implying. Otherwise why would he say it? Figured it could have just been a “back in my day”/“uphill both ways” joke. Also, it seems unlikely to be true. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/30 "2013-03-06T18:55:15Z")
> [@bababadalgharagh](#): > > Figured it could have just been a “back in my day”/“uphill both ways” joke. Also, it seems unlikely to be true. Yeah, I assumed that to be a joke, too. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/31 "2013-03-06T19:30:49Z")
> [@bababadalgharagh](#): > > Also, it seems clear that the _ping_ utility etymology, though likely true, is not universally understood, since one entry on [UrbanDictionary](http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ping) for “ping” is the following: > > So it seems that the author is either unaware of _ping_ the utility or thinks it was derived from this usage, rather than vice-vera (or possibly that they’ve glossed over that part of the etymology purposely, I suppose). Using Urban Dictionary as a reference is slightly less reliable than using Yahoo Answers or the graffiti on the bathroom wall in the subway station. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/32 "2013-03-06T19:31:18Z")
> [@bababadalgharagh](#): > > But you didn’t actually use the word “ping” at the time to describe what you were doing, did you? Of course we did, we were not stupid or blind to pop culture. We were beaming people up, pinging them and yelling “Danger! Danger! Will Robinson” to the annoyance of our parents; emulating pop culture crap just like kids today. Only difference is that 20 years from now you will be able to prove with internet cites (or whatever they call it 20 years from now) that kids actually did make that annoying Sponge Bob Square Pants laugh. Now get off my damn lawn! :mad: :D:D:D ---
**Author:** ![bababadalgharagh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@bababadalgharagh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bababadalgharagh)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/33 "2013-03-06T19:34:39Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:31, topic:652161”] Using Urban Dictionary as a reference is slightly less reliable than using Yahoo Answers or the graffiti on the bathroom wall in the subway station. [/QUOTE] Well, the point is not that whether this etymology is correct or not, rather that someone at some point apparently believed it to be correct. Yahoo! Answers would be similarly valuable for gleaning insights into what other people actually think (regardless of how correct they are), except for the fact that there’s massive trolling on the site. ---
**Author:** ![bababadalgharagh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@bababadalgharagh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bababadalgharagh)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/34 "2013-03-06T19:39:27Z")
> [@Si\_Amigo](#): > > Of course we did, we were not stupid or blind to pop culture. We were beaming people up, pinging them and yelling “Danger! Danger! Will Robinson” to the annoyance of our parents; emulating pop culture crap just like kids today. Only difference is that 20 years from now you will be able to prove with internet cites (or whatever they call it 20 years from now) that kids actually did make that annoying Sponge Bob Square Pants laugh. Of course, there’s selection bias in using electronic sources, which is why I asked if anyone is old enough to know for sure from personal experience. Anyway, obviously you’re being ironic, but I can’t tell if there’s meant to be a grain of truth behind this or not w.r.t. to the specific usage of the word “ping” in a personal communications context. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/35 "2013-03-06T19:44:59Z")
> [@bababadalgharagh](#): > > Well, the point is not that whether this etymology is correct or not, rather that someone at some point apparently believed it to be correct. Yahoo! Answers would be similarly valuable for gleaning insights into what other people actually think (regardless of how correct they are), except for the fact that there’s massive trolling on the site. I would argue that this doesn’t seem to be the best approach to take on this matter seeing as the thread is in **GQ**. ---
**Author:** ![Apollyon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/apollyon/32/4238_2.png) [@Apollyon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apollyon)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/36 "2013-03-06T19:45:05Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > I used to send people “ping?” IMs, and techies would respond back “pong!” Non-techies would respond with “Huh?” Pretty much the same here… although the techie response could be just about anything from “What’s up?” to “Nobody here but us chickens”. 🙂 I’ve got emails from 5 years back that talk about ping in the sense of latency / lag in WoW: “reduced his ping by half…”, “non tunneled toon ping was 400-450ms…”, and so forth, where the term is being used in a technical sense but by people who aren’t all computer types – aren’t necessarily the people who would have ever used the ping utility. I’m wondering if the use in MMOs could have contributed to spread of the term. ---
**Author:** ![bababadalgharagh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@bababadalgharagh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bababadalgharagh)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/37 "2013-03-06T19:49:49Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > I would argue that this doesn’t seem to be the best approach to take on this matter seeing as the thread is in **GQ**. My original question specifically asked whether or not “ping” is used without the understanding of its technical origin, assuming the technical etymology is the correct one, so direct evidence of someone’s stated understanding of the etymology is to the point. **Acsenray** ’s statement that he/she used/understood the word “ping” in a personal communications context without awareness of the _ping_ utility was similarly useful anecdotal evidence. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/38 "2013-03-06T20:06:30Z")
> [@bababadalgharagh](#): > > Well, the point is not that whether this etymology is correct or not, rather that someone at some point apparently believed it to be correct. Yahoo! Answers would be similarly valuable for gleaning insights into what other people actually think (regardless of how correct they are), except for the fact that there’s massive trolling on the site. (a) I disagree with your premise. I don’t think half the crap posted on Urban Dictionary was ever believed by anyone. It’s a mix of misunderstanding, trolling, inside jokes, and raw stupidity – punctuated by the (very) occasional accurate definition. (b) As **KneadToKnow** pointed out, this is the GQ forum, and we have higher standards than “someone at some point believed it to be correct.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/39 "2013-03-06T20:09:56Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:38, topic:652161”] (a) I disagree with your premise. I don’t think half the crap posted on Urban Dictionary was ever believed by anyone. It’s a mix of misunderstanding, trolling, inside jokes, and raw stupidity – punctuated by the (very) occasional accurate definition. [/quote] Show me a bad definition on Urban Dictionary. I’m actually very curious to see it. I’m not talking definitions that are down-voted, but ones that are up-voted and show up high on the list. I have yet to find one wrong slang definition. It’s a great resource for figuring out slang. Etymologies? Not so much. They suck. But to find out what a word or phrase means, I have yet to find something wrong. ---
**Author:** ![bababadalgharagh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@bababadalgharagh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bababadalgharagh)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2013, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161/40 "2013-03-06T20:11:23Z")
[quote=“Gary “Wombat” Robson, post:38, topic:652161”] (b) As **KneadToKnow** pointed out, this is the GQ forum, and we have higher standards than “someone at some point believed it to be correct.” [/QUOTE] But the second part of the question is specifically about whether people believe it to be correct or not. It’s not the best evidence, I grant you ( **Ascenray** ’s direct statement is much better), but how else do you prove this? And what’s the point of someone deliberately trolling Urban Dictionary with a plausible etymology that they know is incorrect, just for the lols? Obviously it _seems_ like many people use “ping” without being aware of the technical origin, but how do you know that? You can’t just assume people are ignorant without knowing for sure. Also, if **Si Amigo** is being serious, then it’s possible that the people assuming the technical origin (myself included) are the ignorant ones, not vice-versa. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/etymology-of-ping/652161.md?page=3)