The Microsoft MS-DOS.5 User's Guide and Reference says:

To start MS-DOS Editor at the command prompt:

Type edit at the command prompt and press the Enter key

       C> edit


---------------------------------------------------------

               STARTING THE DOS EDITOR
               -----------------------

  /mmm\        /mmm\        /mmm\
  (O o)        (O O)        (o o)
    U            U            u           /mmm\
  ||\  \\        / \\         .           (- -)
 oOOo__oOOo   _____oOOo  ___________      __u_oOOo
############  #########  ###########  ################
(BAD ANSWER)   (RETRY)   (ONCE MORE)  (Bored & Asleep)
                  -David Bourgin-