from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
Port Address Translation
<networking> (PAT) A function provided by some {routers} which
allows {hosts} on a {LAN} to communicate with the rest of a
network (such as the {Internet}) without revealing their own
private {IP address}. All outbound {packets} have their IP
address translated to the routers external IP address.
Replies come back to the router which then translates them
back into the private IP address of the original host for
final delivery.
Compare {SOCKS}.
(1998-05-08)