Glomp

Glomp is a term coined by North American otaku, used to describe a form of physical greeting, videlicet a bear hug or tackle followed by latching on tightly but not to a malicious or injurious extent. It has since expanded into slang amongst English-speaking otaku, primarily on IRC, chat rooms, and Internet forums as an extended form of greeting. Columnist Tamara Lush describes "glomp" as "an Anime word for big hug".

The glomp is sometimes performed with a running start, evocative of a pounce. Recipients may at times lose their balance due to an underestimation of the potential force of their friend's affectionate gesture. Some find the practice irritating or undesirable, especially when they are targeted from the rear.

Origins
The origins of the term are unknown. Some believe that the word is mimetic, in an imitation of gitaigo. The referent may be a hug or large bite. Grab, Latch On, Maintain Pressure is a possible acronym or backronym. It may simply be an extrusion of the English verb "glom" which means to seize or latch on, perhaps through synthesis with "jump" or "clamp". Another possible origin is the anime Ranma ½, as a sound reminiscent of the word is heard in one episode. Viz has used "glomp" as a sound effect associated with affectionate embraces repeatedly in its English translation of the Ranma ½ manga, which dates back to 1992, as well. Yet another possibility is that the word was a spontaneous creation of anime fans, demonstrating how rapidly internet culture can spread.

Internet usage
During online chat sessions or in forums, "cyberglomping" (ie, typing ) has become a sense of common behavior, often embellished in various fashions.

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