slopsucker

: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

Jargon File Version 4.3.1, 29 JUN 2001 =

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