Käivast

Käivast is an Estonian-language term used in technical discourse to denote the activation event of a system or process—the moment a device changes from standby or idle to an active state. It can refer to hardware boot, software process initiation, or the triggering of automation sequences, and it is often analyzed in terms of timing, signaling, and reliability.

Linguistic notes: Käivast is formed from the verb käivitama (to start) with the noun-form suffix -st, and it is distinct from related words such as käivitus (start-up) and käivitamine (the act of starting). In many texts, käivast appears as a technical shorthand for the activation event, especially in discussions of real-time systems and embedded software.

Usage: In engineering and information technology, käivast is used to describe activation sequencing, power-on behavior, or the initiation threshold for a process. Examples include a motor controller starting after an enable signal, or a software service commencing after a watchdog reset, each with its own käivast.

History and status: Käivast emerged in 21st-century Estonian technical writing as a concise way to refer to activation timing. It remains a specialized term, more common in engineering glossaries and domain-specific documentation than in everyday language, and it often coexists with more general terms like käivitus or käivitamine.

Related terms include käivitus (start-up) and käivitamine (the act of starting), which are used in broader contexts to describe similar concepts without the emphasis on the exact activation moment.