- Today's Word
Kludge
[klooj]
Definition
- (noun) An awkward or clumsy solution to a problem, often in a quick or makeshift manner. It typically refers to a temporary fix or workaround that is inelegant but functional, especially in computing or engineering contexts.
Example
The software developer created a kludge to patch the security flaw, knowing it wasn’t an ideal solution but would buy them time to develop a more permanent fix.
Fun Fact
The term “kludge” is believed to have originated in the 1940s as a variant of the German word “klug,” meaning “clever.” It was popularized in the tech world by Jackson W. Granholm in a 1962 article titled “How to Design a Kludge.” Interestingly, the spelling “kluge” is sometimes used, particularly in engineering circles, leading to ongoing debates about the ‘correct’ spelling. Despite its negative connotations, kludges are often necessary in real-world problem-solving, where perfect solutions aren’t always possible or practical.
(adjective) Deserving praise or reward on the basis of genuine effort, skill, or achievement.
The meritorious work of the research team went unrecognized for years before a junior colleague finally submitted it for the award it had always deserved.
Meritorious derives from the Latin meritorius, meaning “that by which money is earned,” rooted in merere — “to earn” or “to deserve.” The same root gives us merit, meritocracy, and emeritus — all words built around the idea of something earned rather than given. It entered English in the 15th century, initially used in theological contexts to describe acts worthy of divine reward before expanding into its broader secular sense of anything genuinely deserving of recognition.