Definition: python

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

python
     n 1: large Old World boas
     2: a soothsaying spirit or a person who is possessed by such a
        spirit
     3: (Greek mythology) dragon killed by Apollo at Delphi [syn: Python]

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Python \Py"thon\, n. [NL., fr. L. Python the serpent slain near
   Delphi by Apollo, Gr. ?.]
   1. (Zo["o]l.) Any species of very large snakes of the genus
      Python, and allied genera, of the family Pythonid[ae].
      They are nearly allied to the boas. Called also rock
      snake.

   Note: The pythons have small pelvic bones, or anal spurs, two
         rows of subcaudal scales, and pitted labials. They are
         found in Africa, Asia, and the East Indies.

   2. A diviner by spirits. ``[Manasses] observed omens, and
      appointed pythons.'' --4 Kings xxi. 6 (Douay version).

Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (2003-OCT-10) 

Python

   1. <language> A simple, high-level interpreted language by
   Guido van Rossum <guido@cwi.nl>, 1991.  Python combines ideas
   from ABC, C, Modula-3 and Icon.  It bridges the gap
   between C and shell programming, making it suitable for
   rapid prototyping or as an extension language for C
   applications.  It is object-oriented and supports packages,
   modules, classes, user-defined exceptions, a good C
   interface, dynamic loading of C modules and has no arbitrary
   restrictions.

   Python is available, among others, for Unix, Windows,
   DOS, OS/2, Macintosh, and Amoeba.

   Current version: 1.4, includes interpreter, libraries, and
   documentation.

   Home.

   Usenet newsgroup: news:comp.lang.python.

   2.  A compiler for CMU Common LISP.  Python is
   more sophisticated than other Common Lisp compilers.  It
   produces better code and is easier to use.  The programming
   environment based on the Hemlock editor is better integrated
   than GNU Emacs based environments.

   (1997-02-27)

Source: Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) 

Python /pi:'thon/ In the words of its author, "the other scripting
   language" (other than Perl, that is). Python's design is notably
   clean, elegant, and well thought through; it tends to attract the sort
   of programmers who find Perl grubby and exiguous. Python's relationship
   with Perl is rather like the BSD community's relationship to Linux -
   it's the smaller party in a (usually friendly) rivalry, but the average
   quality of its developers is generally conceded to be rather higher than
   in the larger community it competes with. There's a Python resource page
   at `http://www.python.org'. See also Guido.

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