power cycle

created by Richard
(idea) by Richard (5.1 y) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Fri Apr 28 2000 at 16:28:08
(v.t.) To turn an electrically-powered device off, then on again, as a form of resetting it. Usually done with a switch, as opposed to interrupt 110 with is often thought of as pulling the plug, and does not necessarily involve turning it back on again.
(idea) by Jargon (1.9 y) (print)   ?   (I like it!) Thu Jul 19 2001 at 14:10:59
pound on = P = power hit

power cycle vt.

(also, `cycle power' or just `cycle') To power off a machine and then power it on immediately, with the intention of clearing some kind of hung or gronked state. Syn. 120 reset; see also Big Red Switch. Compare Vulcan nerve pinch, bounce (sense 4), and boot, and see the "Some AI Koans" (in Appendix A) about Tom Knight and the novice.

--The Jargon File version 4.3.1, ed. ESR, autonoded by rescdsk.

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