copy-symbol

(copy-symbol symbol &optional copy-properties)

Returns a fresh uninterned symbol with the same name as symbol. copy-properties is accepted and ignored: there is no (setf symbol-plist) to carry a property list across with.

The copy inherits make-symbol's identity deviation exactly. A symbol here IS its spelling and there is no intern table, so two uninterned symbols of one name are eq -- a copy is not distinguishable from any other copy of the same symbol. Code that only needs a name nobody else uses should reach for gensym, which does give a fresh one every call.

Backend support

Works on all four backends: one definition in rontolisp source over make-symbol.