This term is used all the time on the boards and I have no idea why. The tie rod end is the little black thing with the joint. We all know that and that little thing is not a rod. It screws onto the tie rod which joins the rack at another wear prone joint. Just plain tie rod. Easy to tell if they are worn and easy to change, those tie rods.

700 tie rods with male thread that screws into the female thread of the rack are different from 240 tie rods that do the same. Different thread. I learned that the hard way.