bixie /bik'see/ n. Variant {emoticon}s used on BIX (the BIX Information
   eXchange). The most common ({smiley}) bixie is <@_@>, representing two
   cartoon eyes and a mouth. These were originally invented in an SF
   fanzine called APA-L and imported to BIX by one of the earliest users.


Source: The Jargon File