The story I heard was that a "lid" (like a lot of other terms) originated with the landline telegraphers. It means "a poor operator", and, as I recall, referred to lousy ops who had to put their telegraph sounders on (or put on their telegraph sounders, I forget which) a coffee can lid in order to hear it better. Something like that. 
--
Buddy Brannan, KB5ELV - Erie, PA
Phone: (814) 860-3194 or 888-75-BUDDY



On Jan 5, 2012, at 8:04 AM, David thurmond wrote:

> OK, here's a trivia question for all you Elmers out there.  What is a
> LID and where does this term come from?  I have been led to understand
> that this is someone who, shall we say, does not embrace best
> operating practices, but I'm curious about the term.
> 
> 73,
> 
> David Thurmond, KK4ADV