Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

bi-endian
     
        Silicon schizophrenia.  Processors and other chips that have
        can be switched to work in {big-endian} or {little-endian}
        mode.
     
        The {PowerPC} chip has this ability, which allows it to run
        the little-endian {Windows NT}, or the big-endian {Mac OS/PPC}.
     
        (1995-02-23)