(thing) by vees Thu Apr 26 2001 at 19:12:06

A standard for military and commercial equipment that specifies specific allowed parts and environmental condition ranges that a tool or other device must be able to operate under in order to claim compliance.

This is also referred to informally in the ham radio community as "MilSpec" because it's the only MIL-STD rating commonly applied to handheld ham radios in advertisements.

The required compliance tests include: 

MIL-STD 810E Method 500.3     Low Pressure 
MIL-STD 810E Method 501.3     High Temperature 
MIL-STD 810E Method 502.3     Low Temperature 
MIL-STD 810E Method 503.3     Temperature Shock
MIL-STD 810E Method 506.3     Rain 
MIL-STD 810E Method 507.3     Humidity 
MIL-STD 810E Method 508.4     Fungus 
MIL-STD 810E Method 509.3     Salt Fog 
MIL-STD 810E Method 510.3     Sand and Dust 
MIL-STD 810E Method 511.3     Explosive Atmosphere 
MIL-STD 810E Method 512.3     Leakage 
MIL-STD 810E Method 513.4     Acceleration 
MIL-STD 810E Method 516.4     Shock 
MIL-STD 810E Method 519.4     Gunfire 
MIL-STD 810E Method 520.1     Temp, Humidity, Vibration 
MIL-STD 810E Method 521.1     Icing, Freezing Rain

I like it!