Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Unix Dict/grep Solves Left-Side-of-Keyboard Puzzle

Posted by timothy on from the mysteries-of-the-ages dept.

destinyland writes "For decades, people have been asking this brain teaser: 'What's the longest word you can type with only the left-hand letters on a keyboard?' The answer is supposed to be 'stewardesses,' but grepping the standard dictionary that ships with Unix reveals a much better answer. There's nearly 2,000 shorter words that can typed with only the left hand — including one word that's even longer. (The article also quotes a failed novel attempt using nothing but words typed on the keyboard's left side.)"

4 of 423 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Didn't work here by poot_rootbeer · · Score: 5, Funny

    The longest word I got was 'redrawerredrawers', which probably indicates that my wordfile is corrupted.

  2. Because the... by iamapizza · · Score: 5, Funny

    databases were devertebrated after stewardesses were watered

    --
    Always proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
  3. Re:"Sweaterdresses" better than "devertebrated" by Spy+der+Mann · · Score: 5, Funny

    "sweaterdresses are great" can be typed entirely with the left hand.

    "stewardesses have the greatest assets"

    I win! :D

  4. Re:what? by veganboyjosh · · Score: 5, Funny

    later, on the same flight, when i caught him in there a second time, i redestewardessed him.