Cruft

Cruft is jargon for anything that is left over, redundant and getting in the way. It is used particularly for superseded and unused technical and electronic hardware and useless, superfluous or dysfunctional elements in computer software.

History

Around 1958, the term was used in the sense of "garbage" by students frequenting the MIT Tech Model Railroad Club (TMRC). In the 1959 edition of the club's dictionary, it was defined as "that which magically amounds in the Clubroom just before you walk in to clean up. In other words, rubbage". Its author Peter Samson later explained that this was meant in the sense of "detritus, that which needs to be swept up and thrown out. The dictionary has no definition for 'crufty,' a word I didn't hear until some years later".

The origin of the term is uncertain, but it may be derived from Harvard University's Cruft Laboratory (built in 1915 as a gift from a donor named Harriet Otis Cruft), which was the Harvard Physics Department's radar lab during World War II. As late as the early 1990s, unused technical equipment could be seen stacked in front of Cruft Hall's windows. According to students, if a place filled with useless machinery is called Cruft Hall, the machinery itself must be cruft. This image of "discarded technical clutter" quickly migrated from hardware to software. Cruft may also be a play on the archaic medial "s", rendering "crust" as "cruſt". In the TMRC dictionary, the relation to the term "crud" (dirt, crap) is pointed out by humorously defining the better known word (crud) by the more obscure one (cruft).

Cruft (disambiguation)

Cruft is poor quality computing material.

Cruft may also be:

  • People:
  • Adrian Cruft (1921–1987), British composer
  • Charles Cruft (general) (1826–1883), American teacher, lawyer, railroad executive, and a Union general during the American Civil War
  • Charles Cruft (showman) (1852–1938), British showman who founded Crufts dog show
  • Eugene Cruft (1887–1976), British double bass player
  • Other
    • Wikipedia:Listcruft, lists of indiscriminate information on Wikipedia
    • Wikipedia:Fancruft; the accumulation of trivial information in Wikipedia articles
  • Wikipedia:Listcruft, lists of indiscriminate information on Wikipedia
  • Wikipedia:Fancruft; the accumulation of trivial information in Wikipedia articles
  • Podcasts:

    PLAYLIST TIME:

    Void

    by: Craft

    In the gleaming nightfall we can watch the light retreat.
    Its rays slither eastward, like snakes along the grass,
    As it leaves us to ourselves.
    Woods of tall trees
    Old, deformed and barren - obscuring the sun -
    Red and tired
    From working its way up from life giver
    To massive hydrogen bomb
    We can't see the sun,
    But we can see the god rays surrounding the trees
    And brief dim flickers of light shining through them.
    These are rays from a god that is long dead.
    It's our final night in this place.
    There is no tomorrow.




    Latest News for: cruft

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    Wiltshire in pictures: AI on the farm and a Crufts winner

    BBC News 15 Mar 2025
    There have been some big achievements too - including a Crufts winner. Milking it ... A serious endeavour. border collie Endeavour and owner Laura Chapman, from Salisbury, won The Kennel Club Agility Championships for medium dogs at Crufts. She said ... .
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    Crufts 2025: Best pictures and moments from the world's greatest dog show

    The Scotsman 13 Mar 2025
    With over 24,000 dogs in attendance across dog sports such as Flyball, Agility plus competing for the iconic Best in Show title, here are the best images from the top stories of 2025's incredible edition ....
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    RUFF justice for the Jack Russells! Furious owners say Crufts judges are 'snobs' against breed ...

    The Daily Mail 12 Mar 2025
    Furious dog owners have launched a 'Justice for Jack Russells' campaign after the beloved breed missed out on the coveted Best in Show award at Crufts for the second year running ... I'm so surprised, they've still not won at Crufts….not yet anyway.
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    What is a Whippet like as a pet after 'poor man's racehorse' crowned Crufts 2025 champion

    Daily Record 11 Mar 2025
    If you're on the hunt for an energetic dog to sprint around the park with, Whippets are for you ... .
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    Retired police dog hit by a car and left with only three legs wins Crufts' ...

    The Daily Mail 11 Mar 2025
    An ex police dog injured in the line of duty and left with only three legs has won a Crufts hero award ... Crufts is a prestigious dog show put on by The Kennel Club, which takes place every year in the United Kingdom.
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    Ex-police dog hit by car wins Crufts hero award

    BBC News 10 Mar 2025
    "The courage she has shown and the support she now gives others is extraordinary," says Crufts ... .
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    Miuccia the Italian whippet named Best in Show at Crufts

    NBC News 10 Mar 2025
    Miuccia, an Italian whippet, beat more than 18,000 dogs to be named Best in Show at the Crufts dog show in Birmingham, U.K ... .
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    Crufts 2025 winner crowned as disgruntled fans blast decision as 'absolute joke'

    Daily Record 10 Mar 2025
    The dog beat more than 18,000 pooches from around the world competing over four days to claim the top award ... .
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    Whippet called Miuccia wins best in show at Crufts

    Yahoo Daily News 10 Mar 2025
    A whippet from Italy has been named best in show at the 2025 Crufts dog show in Birmingham ....
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    Crufts 2025: Meet the brave three-legged police dog behind this year's hero award

    The Mirror 10 Mar 2025
    A host of brave hounds have been shortlisted for a prestigious accolade - with one noble pooch winning the award ... .
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    It’s a dog’s life watching United – time for Roy Keane and Co to join Crufts

    AOL 10 Mar 2025
    With Manchester United going to the dogs, Roy Keane, Gary Neville and the Soccer Sunday team secure a free transfer to the Crufts TV coverage ... Welcome back to Sky Crufts Super Sunday where we have seen a dramatic finish to the competition ... .
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    Mamma Miuccia! Italian whippet wins Crufts best in show

    The Times/The Sunday Times 10 Mar 2025
    A whippet from Venice named Miuccia has been crowned best in show at this year’s Crufts alongside her handler, Giovanni Liguori ... • Crufts 2025 ... Crufts was Miuccia’s first show in the United Kingdom, despite being.
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