[from the operation that removes the top of a stack, and the fact that procedure return addresses are saved on the stack]
(also capitalized 'POP' /pop/) 1. vt. To remove something from a stack or pdl. If a person says he/she has popped something from his stack, that means he/she has finally finished working on it and can now remove it from the list of things hanging overhead.
2. When a discussion gets to too deep a level of detail so that the main point of the discussion is being lost, someone will shout "Pop!", meaning "Get back up to a higher level!"
The shout is frequently accompanied by an upthrust arm with a finger pointing to the ceiling.