precedence lossage

/pres@dens los'@j/ , n. [C programmers] Coding error in an expression due to
unexpected grouping of arithmetic or logical operators by the compiler. Used
esp. of certain common coding errors in C due to the nonintuitively low
precedence levels of , | , ^ , , and (for this reason, experienced C
programmers deliberately forget the language's baroque precedence hierarchy
and parenthesize defensively). Can always be avoided by suitable use of
parentheses. LISP fans enjoy pointing out that this can't happen in their
favorite language, which eschews precedence entirely, requiring one to use
explicit parentheses everywhere. See aliasing bug , memory leak , memory
smash , smash the stack , fandango on core , overrun screw.

