[common] What data (a piece of email or netnews, or a stream of
TCP/IP packets) has fallen into if it disappears mysteriously between
its origin and destination sites (that is, without returning a
{bounce message}). "I think there's a black hole at foovax!" conveys
suspicion that site foovax has been dropping a lot of stuff on the
floor lately (see {drop on the floor}). The implied metaphor of email
as interstellar travel is interesting in itself. Readily verbed as
blackhole: "That router is blackholing IDP packets." Compare {bit
bucket} and see {RBL}.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {bit bucket}{drop on the floor}]