Indeed that's an obvious allusion, and actually is explicitly mentioned here: https://bugs.webkit.org/show_bug.cgi?id=112840

Er… first phrase of the page:

> JavaScriptCore uses LLVM for a top-tier high-throughput optimizing JIT, which we call the FTL (Fourth Tier LLVM).

And I think the double meaning is about as transparent as "Simultaneous Peripheral Operation OnLine"

Sure, they write that. But why did the chose the acronym. Sometimes you pick them to convey two messages.