Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
detrompage
English translation:
keyway
French term
detrompage
| 3 | keyway |
Bruce Popp
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| 4 +3 | foolproofing/mistake-proofing |
Dr Sue Levy (X)
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| 5 | foolproofing |
Viktoria Gimbe
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| 3 | polarising |
Adam Warren
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PRO (1): Adam Warren
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Proposed translations
United States
ATA Certified Translator & Patent Agent
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: French to English
keyway
in general this means something that only allows the connector to be inserted in the socket in one orientation
on PS2 mouse and keyboard cables this is done with a keyway but other connectors (serial and printer cables, molex power cables) use a particular assymetric shape or may even have one pin blocked on the female connector
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Note added at 2 hrs 58 mins (2005-01-29 19:37:36 GMT)
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another option: \"unique orientation\" or something similar to fit the sentence...
Adam\'s suggestion of polarising is good in some contexts.
I\'m not very comfortable using foolproofing.
foolproofing/mistake-proofing
| agree |
Tom Bishop
: Of your two options, I prefer "mistake-proofing".
2 hrs
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thanks Tom :-)
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| agree |
DocteurPC
: foolproofing is the right term, but depending on context, it can be mighty insulting - mind you if you ever had to do IT client support you know that «fool» can be the right term
4 hrs
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thanks Doc, IT client support not a job I'd like :-)
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| agree |
Anna Maria Augustine (X)
8 hrs
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ta mate :-)
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Canada
Environnement, sécurité, génie et TI
Native in: French 
, English
Works in: English to French, French to English, Hungarian to English, and 3 more.
foolproofing
détrompage n. m. --- foolproofing
Définition :
Disposition empêchant la mauvaise utilisation d'un instrument.
Note(s) :
Par exemple, en électronique : aménagement asymétrique des contacts du connecteur interdisant son branchement à l'envers. Il existe également « détrompeur » - « l'utilisation d'un détrompeur enfiché dans l'une des voies permet d'éviter de fausses connections ».
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[1975]
France
Working with words, working with people
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: French to English
polarising
Bibliog.: Richard Ernst, Dictionnaire des techniques et sciences appliquées, Fr. / Angl., pub'd. L'Usine Nouvelle - Dunod
Discussion
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