netlag

n. [IRC, MUD] A condition that occurs when the delays in the IRC network or
on a MUD become severe enough that servers briefly lose and then reestablish
contact, causing messages to be delivered in bursts, often with delays of up
to a minute. (Note that this term has nothing to do with mainstream jet lag
, a condition which hackers tend not to be much bothered by.) Often
shortened to just lag.

