1. A huge volume of spurious error-messages output by a compiler with poor error recovery. Too frequently, one trivial syntax error (such as a missing ")" or "}") throws the parser out of synch so that much of the remaining program text, whether correct or not, is interpreted as garbaged or ill-formed. 2. A chain of Usenet followups, each adding some trivial variation or riposte to the text of the previous one, all of whICh is reproduced in the new message an {include war} in whICh the object is to create a sort of communal graffito. 3. A collection of interconneced networking devICes, typICally hubs, that allows those devICes to act together as a logICalrepeater. [Jargon File] (1997-07-17)