Internet Relay Chat
     
         (IRC) /I-R-C/, occasionally /*rk/ A
        client-server chat system of large (often worldwide)
        networks.  IRC is structured as networks of Internet
        servers, each accepting connections from client programs,
        one per user.
     
        The IRC community and the Usenet and MUD communities
        overlap to some extent, including both hackers and regular
        folks who have discovered the wonders of computer networks.
        Some Usenet jargon has been adopted on IRC, as have some
        conventions such as emoticons.  There is also a vigorous
        native jargon (see the entry for "chat").
     
        The largest and first IRC network is EFNet, with a smaller
        breakaway network called the Undernet having existed since
        1992, and dozens of other networks having appeared (and
        sometimes disappeared) since.
     
        See also nick, bot, op.
     
        Yahoo's IRC index
        (http://www.yahoo.com/Computers_and_Internet/Internet/Chat/IRC/).
     
        (1998-01-25)