bogon

bogon /boh'gon/ n.  [by analogy with
   proton/electron/neutron, but doubtless reinforced after 1980 by the
   similarity to Douglas Adams's `Vogons'; see the {Bibliography} in
   Appendix C and note that Arthur Dent actually mispronounces
`Vogons'
   as `Bogons' at one point] 1. The elementary particle of bogosity
(see
   {quantum bogodynamics}).  For instance, "the Ethernet is
   emitting bogons again" means that it is broken or acting in an
   erratic or bogus fashion.  2. A query packet sent from a TCP/IP
   domain resolver to a root server, having the reply bit set instead
   of the query bit.  3. Any bogus or incorrectly formed packet sent
   on a network.  4. By synecdoche, used to refer to any bogus thing,
   as in "I'd like to go to lunch with you but I've got to go to the
   weekly staff bogon".  5. A person who is bogus or who says bogus
   things.  This was historically the original usage, but has been
   overtaken by its derivative senses 1--4.  See also {bogosity},
   {bogus}; compare {psyton}, {fat electrons}, {magic
   smoke}.

   The bogon has become the type case for a whole bestiary of nonce
   particle names, including the `clutron' or `cluon' (indivisible
   particle of cluefulness, obviously the antiparticle of the bogon)
   and the futon (elementary particle of {randomness}, or sometimes
   of lameness).  These are not so much live usages in themselves as
   examples of a live meta-usage: that is, it has become a standard
   joke or linguistic maneuver to "explain" otherwise mysterious
   circumstances by inventing nonce particle names.  And these imply
   nonce particle theories, with all their dignity or lack thereof (we
   might note parenthetically that this is a generalization from
   "(bogus particle) theories" to "bogus (particle theories)"!).
   Perhaps such particles are the modern-day equivalents of trolls and
   wood-nymphs as standard starting-points around which to construct
   explanatory myths.  Of course, playing on an existing word (as in
   the `futon') yields additional flavor.  Compare {magic
   smoke}.