bounce message
n.
[common] Notification message returned to sender by a site unable to
relay {email} to the intended Internet address recipient or the next
link in a {bang path} (see {bounce}, sense 1). Reasons might include a
nonexistent or misspelled username or a {down} relay site. Bounce
messages can themselves fail, with occasionally ugly results; see
{sorcerer's apprentice mode} and {software laser}. The terms bounce
mail and barfmail are also common.
bounce message
A notification message returned to the sender by a site unable
to relay {e-mail} to the intended recipient or the next link
in a {bang path}. Reasons might include a nonexistent or
misspelled user name or a {down} relay site. Bounce messages
can themselves fail, with occasionally ugly results; see
{sorcerer's apprentice mode} and {software laser}. The terms
"bounce mail" and "barfmail" are also common.
[{Jargon File}]
(1994-11-29)