sorcerer's apprentice mode n. [from Goethe's "Der
Zauberlehrling" via the film "Fantasia"] A bug in a protocol
where, under some circumstances, the receipt of a message causes
multiple messages to be sent, each of which, when received,
triggers the same bug. Used esp. of such behavior caused by
{bounce message} loops in {email} software. Compare
{broadcast storm}, {network meltdown}, {software laser},
{ARMM}.