The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):
middle-endian
adj.
Not big-endian or little-endian. Used of perverse byte orders such as
3-4-1-2 or 2-1-4-3, occasionally found in the packed-decimal formats of
minicomputer manufacturers who shall remain nameless. See NUXI problem.
Non-US hackers use this term to describe the American mm/dd/yy style of
writing dates (Europeans write little-endian dd/mm/yy, and Japanese use
big-endian yy/mm/dd for Western dates).
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):
middle-endian
Neither big-endian nor little-endian.
Used of perverse byte orders such as 3-4-1-2 or 2-1-4-3,
occasionally found in the packed decimal formats of some
minicomputer manufacturers.
See -endian.
[Jargon File]
(1998-08-09)