Dictionary flame

[Usenet] An attempt to sidetrack a debate away from issues by insisting on meanings for key terms that presuppose a desired conclusion or smuggle in an implicit premise.

A common tactic of people who prefer argument over definitions to disputes about reality.

Compare spelling flame.

[Jargon File]

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DIBOL dickless workstation Dick Size War DICOM Dictionary APL	spelling flame	Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures Dictionary of Computing DID diddle Didot point