Overflow bit

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The Jargon File Parts of this article are based on the Jargon File, v. 4.4.7, a public domain document of hacker jargon.

overflow bit

Usage: n. Derivation: Techspeak

overflow bit: n.

1. [techspeak] A flag on some processors indicating an attempt to calculate a result too large for a register to hold.
2. More generally, an indication of any kind of capacity overload condition. "Well, the Ada description was baroque all right, but I could hack it OK until they got to the exception handling ... that set my overflow bit."
3. The hypothetical bit that will be set if a hacker doesn't get to make a trip to the Room of Porcelain Fixtures: "I'd better process an internal interrupt before the overflow bit gets set."

Crunchly and the overflow bit.

(The next cartoon in the Crunchly saga is 73-07-29. The previous one is 73-06-04.)

Sources

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