Why are torrent files called torrent files?

What is the origin of the name. I can't find a definitive answer on the web. Why is it called "torrent"?

答覆

rich_pr

2019年2月28日

英語 (美國)
西班牙語 (墨西哥)
西班牙語 (哥倫比亞) 接近流利

I have no idea of it is supposed to come from the English word “torrent” or not. But “torrent” does have a meaning in English.

A torrent is a strong flow of water, possibly from a flood. “His boat was destroyed by the torrent” means it was destroyed by a powerful flow of water. It is also used figuratively. “A torrent of people is coming” just means you have a lot of people coming at once.

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Beyonder6666

2019年2月28日

俄語

@Richard_Fairlie I know what torrent means and it obviously comes from the English word 'torrent." If it didnt, then the word would've been spelled differently, assuming that there are languages that have this same word. Everything is named English words. Knowing its meaning does not help me understand why the software "uTorrent" is called that. Why the word "torrent"? What is it in the whole process of using that kind of software to download something that can be described as "torrenting"? What is it that made the creators consider the word "torrent" as a possible name?