black box vs hickey

black box

noun
  • A theoretical construct or device with known input and output characteristics but unknown method of operation. 

  • A flight recorder; the brightly colored cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders in an aircraft designed to aid in determining the cause of an accident. 

  • A device used in phreaking that prevents the calling party from being billed for the call placed. 

  • A type of theater characterized by a lack of decoration or complex mechanisms. 

  • Any similar device on motor vehicles, such as rail event recorders and ship trip recorders. 

verb
  • To focus on the inputs and outputs without worrying about the internal complexity. 

hickey

noun
  • An object whose name is unknown or cannot be recalled. 

  • A bruise-like mark made during petting by pressing the mouth to the skin on one’s partner’s body and sucking. 

  • A serif or other ornamentation on type. 

  • A tool for making smooth, semicircular bends in conduit and pipe. 

  • A printing defect caused by foreign matter on the printing surface resulting in a ring where the ink is missing, appearing as a spot of ink surrounded by a halo, or as an unprinted spot within a solid printed area. 

  • Local swelling in a tissue area, especially skin, often due to injury. 

  • An unintended negative outcome or loss in regards to a deal or action. 

How often have the words black box and hickey occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )