segmentation fault

( n.)

   [Unix]

   1. [techspeak] An error in which a running program attempts to access
   memory  not  allocated  to  it  and  {core dump}s with a segmentation
   violation  error.  This is often caused by improper usage of pointers
   in  the  source  code,  dereferencing  a  null  pointer,  or  (in  C)
   inadvertently  using a non-pointer variable as a pointer. The classic
   example is:

      int i;
      scanf ("%d", i);  /* should have used &i */

   2. To lose a train of thought or a line of reasoning. Also uttered as
   an exclamation at the point of befuddlement.

[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {segfault}{seggie}{segment}{segv}]