tarpit

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A lake of asphalt formed when subterranean bitumen leaks to the ground surface. Such pits are important in forming fossil fuel reserves; they are also apt to trap passing animals, which become fossilized in the tar.
  2. A service that purposely delays incoming connections in order to reduce the effectiveness of spamming and similar techniques.
verb
  1. To delay by means of a tarpit service.

Word forms

tarpit tarpits tarpitting tarpitted

Etymology

From tar + pit.

Related words

Derived words

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