lion's foot

n : common perennial herb widely distributed in the southern and

eastern United States having drooping clusters of pinkish

flowers and thick basal leaves suggesting a lion's foot

in shape; sometimes placed in genus Prenanthes [syn: {gall

of the earth}, {Nabalus serpentarius}, {Prenanthes

serpentaria}]

lion food

(IBM) Middle management or HQ staff, or, by

extension, administrative drones in general. The term derives

from an old joke:

Two lions escape from the zoo and split up to increase their

chances. When they finally meet after two months, one is

skinny and the other overweight. The thin one says, "How did

you manage? I ate a human just once and they turned out a

small army to chase me with guns and nets, it was terrible.

Since then I've been reduced to eating mice, insects, even

grass." The fat one replies: "Well, ▫I▫ hid near an IBM

office and ate a manager every day. Nobody even noticed!"

[{Jargon File}]

(1994-12-01)