Bezier
(After Frenchman Pierre Bézier from Regie Renault) A collection of formulae for describing curved lines (Bezier curve) and surfaces (Bezier surface), first used in 1972 to model automobile surfaces.
Curves and surfaces are defined by a set of "control points" which can be moved interactively making Bezier curves and surfaces convenient for interactive graphic design.
["Principles of interactive computer graphics", William M. Newman, Graw-Hill].