dongle

Meaning

Noun

• Any small device that plugs into an electronic device, typically a computer, and alters its functionality. Common examples include wireless modems, digital media players, software copy protect devices, and adapters.
• A hardware device utilized by a specific application for purposes of copy protection.

Origin

• Unknown. Likely a corruption of dangle. Claims that the word comes from a man named "Don Gall" were made up by an advertisement. First usage 1980-1985.