precedence lossage
/pre's*-dens los'*j/ [C programmers] n.
Coding error in an expression due to unexpected grouping of
arithmetic or logical operators by the compiler. Used esp. of
certain common coding errors in C due to the nonintuitively low
precedence levels of `&', `|', `^', `<<',
and `>>' (for this reason, experienced C programmers
deliberately forget the language's baroque precedence
hierarchy and parenthesize defensively). Can always be avoided by
suitable use of parentheses. LISP fans enjoy pointing out
that this can't happen in their favorite language, which
eschews precedence entirely, requiring one to use explicit
parentheses everywhere. See aliasing bug, memory leak,
memory smash, smash the stack, fandango on core,
overrun screw.