The term "black box" was a World War II British phrase, originating with the development of radio, radar, and electronic navigational aids in British and Allied combat aircraft. These often-secret electronic devices were literally encased in non-reflective black boxes or housings, hence the name "black box".
Modern dictionary definition.
black box
(Entry 1 of 2)
1: a usually complicated electronic device whose internal mechanism is usually hidden from or mysterious to the user. Broadly : anything that has mysterious or unknown internal functions or mechanisms.
Comments
Sometimes two.
Historic origins.
The term "black box" was a World War II British phrase, originating with the development of radio, radar, and electronic navigational aids in British and Allied combat aircraft. These often-secret electronic devices were literally encased in non-reflective black boxes or housings, hence the name "black box".
Modern dictionary definition.
black box
(Entry 1 of 2)
Either that, or it’s buried under the centre circle in a time capsule!
Can’t see Thomas playing that on his guitar!
Walk, walk, walk right in and
Woh-oh, woh-oh, o-oh-oh, o-o-o-oh-oh