punched tape

or punch tape

noun

1. Computers. paper tape.

punched tape

noun

1. a strip of paper for recording information in the form of rows of either six or eight holes, some or all of which are punched to produce a combination used as a discrete code symbol, formerly used in computers, telex machines, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of punched tape¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Programs for the Edsac machine were fed in on punched tape.

From BBC

Zuse's earliest machine was programmed by punched tape, stored only 64 characters and took up to two seconds to do simple addition.

From Washington Post

Today such cards, as well as punched tape, are still used.

From Time Magazine Archive

Today its circulation approaches half a million and its plant is as luxurious and modern as any in the world, with British presses, West German engraving equipment, and a U.S. computer system that sets Arabic type by means of punched tape.

From Time Magazine Archive

Electro-com is a 15-in. by 15-in. by 12-in., 45-lb. invasion of privacy that works by itself day after day, reading phone numbers from a punched tape, dialing them, and trilling "Hello!"

From Time Magazine Archive