Foxconn

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The Taiwanese multinational electronics contract manufacturer that assembles devices for major technology brands ; the parent corporation known formally as Hon Hai Precision Industry
2. A large Taiwan-based company that produces consumer electronics under contract for global firms ; the firm officially registered as Hon Hai Precision Industry Company
3. An electronics assembly giant headquartered in Taiwan that builds products for well-known tech companies ; the business formally called Hon Hai Precision Industry

Etymology: Foxconn is a proper noun, the trade name of Hon Hai Precision Industry, a company founded in Taipei, Taiwan, by Terry Gou. Its name is a blend of "Fox," from the company's early habit of giving its products and subsidiaries names drawn from Western brands and words, and "conn," short for "connector," reflecting its origins in making computer connectors and cables. The name thus describes the firm's first business rather than any animal or legend. The company grew into the world's largest contract electronics manufacturer, assembling devices for many well-known technology brands. Its scale made the name familiar far beyond Taiwan, and it became a common shorthand for large-scale electronics assembly, often discussed in connection with the factories in mainland China where much of that work was carried out.