Is there a word or phrase that describes the practice of adopting a term from one field in a totally different field? Typically this term shares some conceptual meaning with the originating field. One example is the word "ecosystem". I believe it originated in the biology or natural sciences but has found its way in several other discourses such as computer science.

http://db.cs.berkeley.edu/claremont/claremontreport08.pdf
The Claremont Report on Database Research

I dont think there is any word for such a practice.. You can still check out www.vocabularybuilding.org which has long word list.

Intelligence?

All I can think of is co-opt, but that's not specific to words.

Linguistic cross-pollination?

How about 'WEB' from spiders, nets, etc, to computers?

Originally Posted By: jpryde
Is there a word or phrase that describes the practice of adopting a term from one field in a totally different field?


Intelligence?
*********

Bullshit bingo is full of *it.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Bullshittery

or even:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bullshit

Refering to the original quote, the usage analysis:

"Assertions of fact
Bullshit is commonly used to describe statements made by people more concerned with the response of the audience than in truth and accuracy...

Seems to be accurate.