trit

/trit/ , n. [by analogy with bit ] One base-3 digit; the amount of
information conveyed by a selection among one of three equally likely
outcomes (see also bit ). Trits arise, for example, in the context of a flag
that should actually be able to assume three values such as yes, no, or
unknown. Trits are sometimes jokingly called 3-state bits. A trit may be
semi-seriously referred to as a bit and a half , although it is linearly
equivalent to 1.5849625 bits (that is, log_{2$(3)} bits).