orig

Orig is a widely used abbreviation derived from origin or original. Because its meaning depends on context, orig does not have a single fixed definition; it typically denotes the source, starting point, or first version of something.

In linguistic, bibliographic, and scholarly contexts, orig. is used to indicate the original form, language, edition, or source of a work. It can mark the original text from which a translation or adaptation is derived, or the original data in metadata records.

In computing and software distribution, orig is commonly seen in file naming and packaging conventions. A frequent usage is the upstream source tarball named something like package_version.orig.tar.gz, where orig signals the original, unmodified upstream release as opposed to patched or modified versions. In patch workflows, patch utilities may create backup copies of files with a .orig suffix before applying changes, serving as a way to recover the original content if needed.

In data management and standards, orig may appear in metadata fields to indicate the original data source or the earliest recorded value, helping to track provenance and traceability.

See also: origin, original, orig.tar.gz, patch, Debian packaging, provenance.