The author explored an old codebase and came across a regex referencing various protocols including HTTP, FTP, and the obscure DICT protocol for querying dictionaries on the Internet. While the use of such servers was popular in the past, it has declined with the advent of search engines and larger databases. However, the author provides instructions on how to use the DICT protocol to look up definitions or even translate words. The article raises unanswered questions about the availability of Dictionary Servers, the Webster Protocol, and the potential modern uses of a DICT server.
https://shkspr.mobi/blog/2024/09/http-ftp-and-dict/