Where does the word “shebang” come from and what is the whole shebang?
From Merriam-Webster’s online:
Main Entry: she·bang Pronunciation Guide
Pronunciation: shba, sh-, -ai
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): -s
Etymology: perhaps alteration of shebeen
1 : a crude or primitive dwelling : HUT
2 : ESTABLISHMENT, CONTRIVANCE, AFFAIR, CONCERN, THING <put on a stylish shebang> – usually used with whole <blew up the whole shebang>
It has got to be an Anglo-American version of an Irish Gaelic word. I think the word for house or cabin is (watch the spelling) she-beg. It may have the same derivation or even be the same word.
It has got to be an Anglo-American version of an Irish Gaelic word. I think the word for house or cabin is (watch the spelling) she-beg. It may have the same derivation or even be the same word. Or maybe (again, with the spelling) shah-been.
FWIW… This “symbol” below is called a hashbang by some, but a sheband by others:
#!
…as in:
#!/usr/bin/perl
(to specify the path to the Perl interpreter in a Perl script).
would be your best read on the subject.