teletrial

T1E1L1E1T1R1I1A1L1

noun

A trial conducted over the Internet for someone who has violated the hacker ethos.

Scrabble 9

Meanings

nounteletrial (plural teletrials)

plural teletrials

  1. historicalhacker cultureA trial conducted over the Internet for someone who has violated the hacker ethos.

    The spate of electronic retaliation by the hackers has included death threats and the theft of [Richard] Sandza's credit card number, the abuse of his credit rating, and at least two "teletrials"—in which "juries" of hackers suggested ways of punishing the reporter.

    1986, Phyllis Yasuda, Vivian Frederick, Using Microcomputers: Apple Version, Menlo Park, C.A.; […]: The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, →ISBN, page 227, column 1
    1 more example

    Typically, the word is spread on the network of pirate boards that a teletrial will be taking place. Pirates from around the country are encouraged to call a designated board — the trial "venue" — and take part in the trial. Usually the operator of the "trial board" acts as moderator for the teletrial.

    1985 November 21, Brock N. Meeks, “San Diego computer pirates busted by FBI”, in San Diego Reader, archived from the original on 31 Oct 2022

Origin

Cite this entry
APA

teletrial. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/teletrial

MLA

“teletrial.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/teletrial. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “teletrial,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/teletrial.

Source: teletrial on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.