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*% General note: Percentages usually refer to the amount of keys in comparison to a standard ANSI layout.

40% A minimal keyboard layout reduced to letters and a few modifier keys.

60% A keyboard layout consisting of just the main cluster without the numpad, function row, arrow cluster and navigation cluster. Also refers to keyboards with a compressed layout that has about the same size.

75% A compressed keyboard layout without a numberpad. Usually has one more row and one more column in comparison to a 60%.

80% See "tenkeyless".

A

ABS Abbreviation for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, a common type of plastic used for keycaps.

APL A programming language that uses special symbols in its syntax.

ATmega A microcontroller that can be used as a keyboard controller.

B

Battleship, battlecruiser A keyboard bigger than full-size, often with 122 keys.

BIN Abbreviation for "buy it now".

BNIB Abbreviation for "brand new in box".

BSP BSP Europe, a keycap manufacturer.

Buckling Spring [BS] A clicky spring-over-membrane key mechanism, typically found on IBM/Lexmark/Unicomp keyboards. There is also a capacitive variant without a membrane.

C

Cherry A switch, keyboard and formerly keycap manufacturer.

ClickClack [CC, Clack Factory, Clark] GH user who makes custom keycaps; also refers to these keycaps, the most common of which features a stylised skull.

CONUS Abbreviation for Contiguous United States, referring to the 48 adjoining U.S. states between Canada and Mexico and the District of Columbia.

Cooler Master Storm [CM, CM Storm] A keyboard brand, sells keyboards such as the QFR. The gaming division of Cooler Master.

Costar A keyboard manufacturer.

D

DCS The cylindrical keycap profile used by Signature Plastics. This is the profile closest to Cherry.

Deck A keyboard brand.

Deskthority [DT] A mechanical keyboard focused forum similar to Geekhack.

Diatec Diatec is a coportation that makes power supplies, PC peripherals, and keyboards under the brand name "Filco".

Dibs Used when claiming or reserving something.

Doubleshot [DS] A method to print legends on a key.

DSA The short spherical keycap profile used by Signature Plastics.

Ducky A keyboard manufacturer.

Dyesub A method to print legends on a key.

E

EliteKeyboards [EK] Website that sells keyboards such as Leopold and Topre. Also stocks keycaps and accessories like keypullers and lube.

F

Filco A keyboard brand.

G

GH Abbreviation for Geekhack.

GID Abbreviation for "glow in the dark".

GLWS [GLW*] Abbreviation of "good luck with sale", also used with trade, buy, etc.

GMK GMK Electronic Design, a keycap manufacturer. GMK bought the old Cherry ABS molds and is producing new caps from the Cherry molds; they are new "Cherry" keycaps.

Group Buy [GB] An organized purchase by a group to reduce pricing or to reach a MOQ.

I

Interest Check [IC] A survey to get an idea if there is interest in a product or group buy.

iOne A keyboard manufacturer.

K

KBDMania [kbdmania.net, kbd] A korean mechanical keyboard focused forum similar to Geekhack.

Korean custom keyboard Refers to custom keyboards from Korea that are made in small numbers and usually come with a metal case. Depending on the model they are also programmable.

KTOD Refers to a series of threads called Keyboard Talk of the Day.

M

Massdrop [MD] A commercial vendor that organizes sales similar to group buys.

MechanicalKeyboards.com [MK, MK.com] A website that sells mechanical keyboards and keyboard accessories.

Mechanical Keyboards Subreddit [/r/mech] Subforum on Reddit focused on mechanical keyboards.

Moogle Compatibility Kit [Moogle] A set of additional keys to make a keycap set with a non-standard layout compatible for a standard ANSI layout. Here's a picture from Ovoxo that shows the keys it usually includes.

MOQ Abbreviation of "minimum order quantity".

N

NIB Abbreviation for "new in box".

NOS Abbreviation for "new old stock", unsold stock of a product that is no longer produced.

O

OG Original, abbreviation for original gangster.

OP Abbreviation for original post or poster, referring to the person who opened the thread or the first post in the thread.

OnTheDesk [otd.kr, OTD] A korean mechanical keyboard focused forum similar to Geekhack.

Overclock.net [OCN] A technology related forum.

P

PBT Abbreviation for polybutylene terephthalate, a type of plastic used for keycaps.

PimpMyKeyboard [PMK] A website from Signature Plastics.

Potato [picture] A photo with miserable quality.

POM Polyoxymethylene, a type of plastic used for keycaps.

Point of sale [POS] Used to reference cash register keyboards.

Q

QuickFire Rapid [QFR] A keyboard made by CM Storm.

R

Rosewill A keyboard brand.

Rubberdome [RD] Rubber dome over membrane switch. Used in non-mechanical keyboards.

S

SA The tall spherical keycap profile used by Signature Plastics.

Shine [DSII, DS2, DSIII, DS3] A keyboard series made by Ducky.

SP Signature Plastics, a keycap manufacturer.

SSK Abbreviation for space saving keyboard, a tenkeyless buckling-spring keyboard originally from IBM.

Stabilizers [Stabs] A mechanism that enables pressing down large keys without hitting their center.

T

Teensy A small development board that is often used as a keyboard controller.

Tenkeyless [TKL, 80%] A keyboard layout without a numpad.

TG3 Electronics An input device manufacturer that is also the parent company of Deck.

Tsangan Compatibility Kit [Tsangan] A set of additional keys to make a keycap set compatible with non-standard layouts. Here's a picture from Hashbaz that shows the keys it usually includes.

TW Abbreviation for "testing waters", synonym for an interest check.

W

WASD Keyboards A keyboard and keycap manufacturer.

Windown 98 [Memphis] An operating system by Microsoft.

Winkeyless [WKL] A keyboard layout without Windows and menu keys, featuring larger Ctrl and Alt keys.

WTS [WT*] Abbreviation of "want to sell", also used with trade, buy, etc.

WTTF Abbreviation of "want to trade for".

Y

Year of the Bull [YotB] A keyboard by Ducky released 2009.

Year of the Dragon [YotD] A TKL backlit keyboard by Ducky with black case and new backlighting modes, released 2012.

Year of the Rabbit [YotR] A full size non-backlit keyboard by Ducky with a white case and PBT keycaps, released 2011.

Year of the Snake [YotS] A full size backlit keyboard by Ducky with an aluminium case top and a snake space bar, released 2013.