char (*(*x())[])()

"char (*(*x())[])()
x: function returning pointer to array[] of pointers to function returning char" - K&R, page 122.

Because C is concise and elegant.
Seriously, I am a fan of the language, but this is unforgivable.

>>6
But it is simple and arguably also elegant.

having studied it for a few hours
It takes 30 sec to learn the rules for reading type signatures of arbitrary complexity. Start within the innermost parentheses around the name, postfix before prefix, left associative for postfix, right associative for prefix.