Slopsucker

2 definitions found

From Jargon File (4.3.1, 29 Jun 2001) [jargon]:

  slopsucker /slop'suhk-r/ n. A lowest-priority task that waits around
     until everything else has `had its fill' of machine resources. Only when
     the machine would otherwise be idle is the task allowed to `suck up the
     slop'. Also called a `hungry puppy' or `bottom feeder'. One common
     variety of slopsucker hunts for large prime numbers. Compare
     {background}.


  
  

From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:

  slopsucker
       
          /slop'suhk-r/ A lowest-priority task that waits around until
          everything else has "had its fill" of machine resources.  Only
          when the machine would otherwise be idle is the task allowed
          to "suck up the slop".  Also called a "hungry puppy" or
          "bottom feeder".  One common variety of slopsucker hunts for
          large prime numbers.  Compare {background}.
       
          [{Jargon File}]