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.

[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {barfmail}{black hole}{bounce}{nastygram}{software laser}{sorcerer's apprentice mode}]