govware en · NOUN
Etymology
Etymology tree English gov Proto-Indo-European *sem- Proto-Germanic *samþuz /*samftuz Proto-Indo-European *-yos Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Germanic *-jaz Proto-West Germanic *-ī Proto-West Germanic *samft(ī) Old English sōfte Middle English softe English soft Proto-Germanic *warō Proto-West Germanic *waru Old English waru Middle English ware English -ware English softwarebf. English -ware English govware From gov (clipping of "government") + -ware.
Meanings
- (qualifier:computer security, uncommon, uncountable) Spyware or surveillance software used by governments, often a type of Trojan horse that intercepts communications.