It wasn't that obscure in the US before Linus used it, although perhaps its use was regional? I certainly heard it frequently. "git" still means "asshole" in my mind first, and I have to recontextualize that default every time to think of in terms of the version control system.
I have the same problem with "POS". Every time I see of hear that, "point of sale" isn't the thing that pops into my mind first.
