rc file

rc file: /R-C fi:l/ n.  [UNIX from `runcom files' on
   the {CTSS} system ca.1955, via the startup script
   `/etc/rc'] Script file containing startup instructions for an
   application program (or an entire operating system), usually a text
   file containing commands of the sort that might have been invoked
   manually once the system was running but are to be executed
   automatically each time the system starts up.  See also {dot
   file}, {profile} (sense 1).