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precedence lossage


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.