Wordnet 3.0
NOUN (1)
1.
a list of questions that are frequently asked (about a given topic) along with their answers;
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
FAQ \FAQ\ (f[a^]k), FAQ list \FAQ" list`\ (f[a^]k"l[i^]st`),
FAQlist \FAQ"list\ (f[a^]k"l[i^]st`), pr. n. [acronym from
Frequently Asked Questions.]
A list of questions and answers concerning a specific topic,
such as how to use a particular computer program. Many such
lists contain answers to the most commonly asked questions
about that topic, however the questions need not derive from
actual queries. Such lists are often maintained in electronic
form and made available on the World Wide Web. [acronym]
[PJC]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
FAQ
n 1: a list of questions that are frequently asked (about a
given topic) along with their answers
V.E.R.A. -- Virtual Entity of Relevant Acronyms (February 2016):
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions (slang, Usenet)
The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):
FAQ
/F?A?Q/, /fak/, n.
[Usenet]
1. A Frequently Asked Question.
2. A compendium of accumulated lore, posted periodically to high-volume
newsgroups in an attempt to forestall such questions. Some people prefer
the term ?FAQ list? or ?FAQL? /fa'kl/, reserving ?FAQ? for sense 1.
This lexicon itself serves as a good example of a collection of one kind of
lore, although it is far too big for a regular FAQ posting. Examples: ?What
is the proper type of NULL?? and ?What's that funny name for the #
character?? are both Frequently Asked Questions. Several FAQs refer readers
to the Jargon File.
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):
frequently asked question
FAQ
FAQL
FAQ list
(FAQ, or rarely FAQL, FAQ list) A document
provided for many Usenet newsgroups (and, more recently,
web services) which attempts to answer questions
which new readers often ask. These are maintained by
volunteers and posted regularly to the newsgroup. You should
always consult the FAQ list for a group before posting to it
in case your question or point is common knowledge.
The collection of all FAQ lists is one of the most precious
and remarkable resources on the Internet. It contains a
huge wealth of up-to-date expert knowledge on many subjects of
common interest. Accuracy of the information is greatly
assisted by its frequent exposure to criticism by an
interested, and occasionally well-informed, audience (the
readers of the relevant newsgroup).
The main FTP archive for FAQs is on a computer called RTFM
at MIT, where they can be accessed either by group
(ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-group/comp.answers/) or by
hierarchy (ftp://rtfm.mit.edu/pub/usenet-by-hierarchy/).
There is another archive at Imperial College
(ftp://src.doc.ic.ac.uk/usenet/news-info/), London, UK and a
web archive in Ohio
(http://cis.ohio-state.edu/hypertext/faq/usenet/top.html),
USA.
The FAQs are also posted to Usenet newsgroups:
news:comp.answers, news:news.answers and
news:alt.answers.
(1997-12-08)