Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

META
     
         The {assembly language} for the {CYBER 200},
        developed at {CDC} ca 1977.
     
        [CDC Pub 60256020].
     
        [{Jargon File}]
     
        (1994-11-16)

meta
     
         /me't*/ or /may't*/ or (Commonwealth) /mee't*/ A
        prefix meaning one level of description higher.  If X is some
        concept then meta-X is data about, or processes operating on,
        X.
     
        For example, a {metasyntax} is {syntax} for specifying syntax,
        {metalanguage} is a language used to discuss language,
        {meta-data} is data about data, and {meta-reasoning} is
        reasoning about reasoning.
     
        This is difficult to explain briefly, but much hacker humour
        turns on deliberate confusion between meta-levels.
     
        [{Jargon File}]
     
        (1999-04-06)