frankenpine

n. a cellular telephone tower camouflaged to look like a pine tree. Subjects: English, Technology, Slang

Editorial Note: An older coinage of “frankenpine” refers to genetically modified pine trees.

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Citations: 2004 Michael Gormley @ Albany, New York USA Today (July 8) “‘Frankenpine’: Camoflaged cell tower or Adirondack monstrosity?”: The tower would be part of a new brand of high-tech tower that tries to mimic trees and vegetation. Nextel proposes to paint the tower brown at its lowest sections and attach fake branches to make the tower appear to be a white pine, albeit more than 30 feet higher than any surrounding trees. Critics dub it “Frankenpine.” 2006 Carolyn Carlson Albuquerque Journal (New Mexico) (Sept. 22) “Los Ranchos Panel Backs Cell Tower”: Opponents also questioned the primary design that TMobile is considering—a “monopine” that Varela said would camouflage the tower to look like tall trees.…Serna said placing the “Frankenpine” above the park’s cottonwoods, which will lose their leaves in the fall, is “ludicrous.” 2007 Rebecca Steffan Adirondack Daily Enterprise (Saranac Lake, New York) (Aug. 15) “‘Stealth Towers’ exhibit focuses on art, not controversy of the I-87 tower debate”: Frankenpine is a term used to describe a cell phone tower disguised as a tree.

Posted 16 Aug 07 | Permalink | Tell a Friend