gensym: /jen´sim/ [from MacLISP for generated
symbol]
1. v. To invent a new name for
something temporary, in such a way that the name is almost certainly not in
conflict with one already in use.
2. n. The resulting name. The
canonical form of a gensym is ‘Gnnnn’ where nnnn represents a
number; any LISP hacker would recognize G0093 (for example) as a gensym.
3. A freshly generated data structure with a gensymmed name.
Gensymmed names are useful for storing or uniquely identifying crufties
(see cruft).