< library > /jen'sim/ (From the MacLISP for "generated symbol") 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.
The canonical form of a gensym is "Gnnnn" where nnnn represents a number; any LISP hacker would recognise G0093 (for example) as a gensym. Gensymmed names are useful for storing or uniquely identifying crufties.
[ Jargon File ]
(1999-10-31)