I consider perlfaq1 the definitive reference. As it says, "...perl is not an acronym, apocryphal folklore and post-facto expansions notwithstanding."

Note that I have seen Larry Wall claim that he settled on the name Perl partially because he liked the fact that it could expand both to Practical Extraction and Report Language and Pathologically Eclectic Rubbish Lister. Which is why both of those are in the perl manpage.

In reply to Re^5: perl not omnipotent? let's see! by tilly
in thread perl not omnipotent? let's see! by Moron

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