Apparently, a lot of people more directly in the machining business do call it swarf as I come to find out. I guess that regardless of all of the machine tool retrofits I have done over the years, the subject must have never come up. I've just always called it drill shavings if it comes off of a drill bit or chips if it came from a milling machine. I like this word better though, Im adding ti to my lexicon.
I used it in the kitchen to describe the detritus that was left over from peeling and chopping carrots yesterday, the wife didn't even flinch. I guess she is used to hearing bizarre words coming from me, so it no longer fazes her.
"Will work for (the memory of) salami"