arena

( n.)

   [common; Unix] The area of memory attached to a process by brk(2) and
   sbrk(2)  and  used  by  malloc(3) as dynamic storage. So named from a
   malloc:  corrupt  arena  message  emitted  when  some  early versions
   detected  an  impossible  value  in the free block list. See {overrun
   screw},  {aliasing  bug},  {memory  leak}, {memory smash}, {smash the
   stack}.

[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {aliasing bug}{fandango on core}{heisenbug}{leaky heap}{overrun screw}]