Intertubes is a slang term for the Internet.
The way in which this term came into existence is described in the Wikipedia item on Series of Tubes.
I came across the term because I discovered that a site called TubeTrove was linking to my blog in its English language section. I thought the name TubeTrove was rather clever, as it reminded me of Treasure Trove, and I looked at the description of the site, which describes it as ”A collection of good content from the intertubes.” (Moreover, my blog is placed next to an item on “Scott Thornbury on grammar”, which for me is to have truly arrived, as I think he is the most interesting writer on grammar that I have ever read.)
Having put Intertubes into Google I discovered that I had been missing lots of tech buzz around this word, and in fact it prompted my rather weary memory cells to recall something about the notorious “The Internet is a Series of Tubes” speech from an American Senator.
Wordnik, which “is projected to be the largest online dictionary ever”, gives Intertubes its due place, with some fantastic examples of usage. Wordnik was “launched by Erin McKean, former editor in chief of the New Oxford American Dictionary”. We are told it ”is a refuge for linguistic underdogs and etymological rejects alike.” It looks to me like a site for word lovers to keep watching.
ETYM
Internet – a worldwide network of interlinked computers.
Tube – a tube is like a pipe, and the term pipe can mean a connection to the internet, with a bigger pipe referring to higher bandwidth and consequently greater speed.
Tube – I seem to remember that we used to call television “the tube”.
YouTube – a video sharing website. A good way of putting yourself on the Intertubes.
