finger (redirected from finger sweep)

finger

A Unix command widely used on the Internet to find out information about a particular user, such as telephone number, whether currently logged on or the last time logged on. The person being "fingered" must have placed his or her profile on the system. Profiles can be very elaborate either as a method of social introduction or to state particular job responsibilities. Fingering requires entering the full user@domain address.

---

finger

1. 

a. any of the digits of the hand, often excluding the thumb

b. (as modifier): a finger bowl

2. the length or width of a finger used as a unit of measurement

3. a quantity of liquid in a glass, etc., as deep as a finger is wide; tot

4. a projecting machine part, esp one serving as an indicator, guide, or guard

---

(tool)

finger - A Unix program that displays information about a particular user or all users logged on the system, or a remote system. Finger typically shows full name, last login time, idle time, terminal line, and terminal location (where applicable). It may also display a plan file left by the user (see also Hacking X for Y). Some versions take a "-l" (long) argument which yields more information.