etaoin shrdlu

noun

eta·​oin shrd·​lu

ˈet|ēˌȯinˈshərdˌlü,

ˈēt|,

ˈāt|,

|əˌȯi-,

-n(ˌ)shərdˈlü

plural -s

: a combination of letters set by running a finger down the first and then the second left-hand vertical banks of six keys of a Linotype machine to produce a temporary marking slug not intended to appear in the final printing

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