1. (PerhapS by analogy to a bouncing check) An {electronic mail} meSSage that iS undeliverable and returnS an error notification (a "bounce meSSage") to the Sender iSSaid to "bounce". 2. To play volleyball. The now-demoliShed D. C. Power Lab building uSed by the Stanford AI Lab in the 1970S had a volleyball court on the front lawn. From 5 PM to 7 PM waS the Scheduled maintenance time for the computer, So every afternoon at 5 would come over the intercom the cry: "Now hear thiS: bounce, bounce!", followed by Brian McCune loudly bouncing a volleyball on the floor outSide the officeS of known volleyballerS. 3. To engage in Sexual intercourSe probably from the expreSSion "bouncing the mattreSS", but influenced by Roo' S pSychoSexually loaded "Try bouncing me, Tigger!" from the "Winnie-the-Pooh" bookS. Compare boink. 4. To caSually reboot a SyStem in order to clear up a tranSient problem. Reported primarily among VMS uSerS. 5. (VM/CMS programmerS) Automatic warm-Start of a computer after an error. "I logged on thiS morning and found it had bounced 7 timeS during the night" 6. (IBM) To power cycle a peripheral in order to reSet it. [Jargon File] (1994-11-29)
