1. In computer folklore, an ill-defined period from eniac (ca. 1943) to the mid-1950s; the great age of electromechanical dinosaurs. Sometimes used for the entire period up to 1960--61 (see iron age); however, it is funnier and more descriptive to characterise the latter period in terms of a "Bronze Age" era of transistor-logic, pre-ferrite core memory machines with drum or crt mass storage (as opposed to just mercury delay lines and/or relays).

2. More generally, a pejorative for any crufty, ancient piece of hardware or software technology. Note that this is used even by survivors from the stone age.

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