spool (redirected from spools)

spool

See print spooler and spooling.

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spool

a device around which magnetic tape, film, cotton, etc., can be automatically wound, with plates at top and bottom to prevent it from slipping off

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spool [spül]

(graphic arts)

A flanged cylinder in a camera on which unprocessed roll film is wound.

(mechanical engineering)

The drum of a hoist.

The movable part of a slide-type hydraulic valve.

(textiles)

A cylinder made of wood or other material on which yarn is held during spinning or weaving.

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1.	(operating system)	SPOOL - Acronym for Simultaneous Peripheral Operation On-Line; but see also spool.
2.	(language)	Spool - An object-oriented logic programming language. ["An Experience with a Prolog Based Language", K. Fukunaga et al, SIGPLAN Notices 21(11):224-231 (Nov 1986) (OOPSLA '86)].
3.	(operating system)	spool - To send files to some device or program (a "spooler" or demon) that puts them in a queue for later processing of some kind. Without qualification, the spooler is the "print spooler" controlling output of jobs to a printer; but the term has been used in connection with other peripherals (especially plotters and graphics devices) and occasionally even for input devices. The term "SPOOL" has been attributed to IBM as an acronym for Simultaneous Peripheral Operation On-Line but it's widely thought to have been contrived for effect.