snark

snark n.  [Lewis Carroll, via the Michigan Terminal System]
   1. A system failure.  When a user's process bombed, the operator
   would get the message "Help, Help, Snark in MTS!"  2. More
   generally, any kind of unexplained or threatening event on a
   computer (especially if it might be a boojum).  Often used to refer
   to an event or a log file entry that might indicate an attempted
   security violation.  See {snivitz}.  3. UUCP name of
   snark.thyrsus.com, home site of the Jargon File versions from
   2.*.* on (i.e., this lexicon).