coasterware

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Latin costa

Latin costicāreder.

Old French costoierbor.

Middle English costeien

English coast

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂

Proto-Indo-European *-os?

Proto-Indo-European *-o-

Proto-Indo-European *-so-

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂so-

Proto-Indo-European *-is

Proto-Indo-European *-yós

Proto-Indo-European *-eh₂s(i)yós

Proto-Italic *-āsijos

Proto-Italic *-āsios

Latin -āriusnom.

Latin -āriusbor.

Proto-Germanic *-ārijaz

Proto-West Germanic *-ārī

Old English -ere

Middle English -ere

▲

Latin -ārius

Old French -ierbor.

Middle English -er

English -er

English coaster

Proto-Indo-European *sem-

Proto-Germanic *samþuz / *samftuz

Proto-Indo-European *-yos

▲

Proto-Indo-European *-yós

Proto-Germanic *-jaz

Proto-West Germanic *-ī

Proto-West Germanic *samft(ī)

Old English sōfte

Middle English softe

English soft

Proto-Germanic *warō

Proto-West Germanic *waru

Old English waru

Middle English ware

English -ware

English softwarebf.

English -ware

English coasterware

From coaster +‎ -ware, from the jocular notion that the disc containing the software is more useful as a drink coaster.

Pronunciation

• Audio (Australia):

  (file)

Noun

coasterware (uncountable)

1. (computing, slang, derogatory) Exceptionally low-quality software.

   Synonyms: cheeseware, crapware, crudware, (vulgar) shitware

   • 2003 November 1, “Europa Universalis: Crown of the North”, in Computer Gaming World:

     From start to finish, it is a poorly conceived, ill-executed, and time-wasting piece of coasterware designed to suck money away from both fans of the much-lauded series and unsuspecting newcomers.