The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):
frob
/frob/
1. n. [MIT; very common] The TMRC definition was ?FROB = a protruding arm
or trunnion?; by metaphoric extension, a frob is any random small thing; an
object that you can comfortably hold in one hand; something you can frob
(sense 2). See frobnitz.
2. vt. Abbreviated form of frobnicate.
3. [from the MUD world] A command on some MUDs that changes a player's
experience level (this can be used to make wizards); also, to request
wizard privileges on the ?professional courtesy? grounds that one is a
wizard elsewhere. The command is actually ?frobnicate? but is universally
abbreviated to the shorter form.
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):
frob
/frob/ 1. [MIT] The TMRC definition was "FROB = a
protruding arm or trunnion"; by metaphoric extension, a "frob"
is any random small thing; an object that you can comfortably
hold in one hand; something you can frob (sense 2). See
frobnitz.
2. Abbreviated form of frobnicate.
3. [MUD] A command on some MUDs that changes a player's
experience level (this can be used to make wizards); also, to
request wizard privileges on the "professional courtesy"
grounds that one is a wizard elsewhere. The command is
actually "frobnicate" but is universally abbreviated to the
shorter form.
[Jargon File]