from
The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
baud barf
<jargon> /bawd barf/ The garbage one gets on the {display
screen} when using a {modem} connection with some {protocol}
setting (especially line speed) incorrect, or when someone
picks up a voice extension on the same line, or when really
bad line noise disrupts the connection. Baud barf is not
completely {random}, by the way; hackers with a lot of
serial-line experience can usually tell whether the device at
the other end is expecting a higher or lower speed than the
{terminal} is set to. *Really* experienced ones can identify
particular speeds.
[{Jargon File}]
(1996-02-22)