Always wondered about this - is IP 'internet protocol' or something else, since it's much lower level than IP? I've been using IP route 15 for 15, maybe 20 years now and hinestly have no idea.

Yes, it is 'internet protocol' [0] and part of TCP/IP.[1]

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Protocol

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_protocol_suite

I know what IP is. Your reference doesn't answer the question as to whether 'ip' means IP.