1. netsplit - Noun
2. netsplit - Verb
English Wikipedia has an article on:netsplitWikipedia
netsplit (plural netsplits)
(Internet) A technical glitch encountered when two or more IRC servers lose their connection to each other, dividing the network into a number of isolated groups of users.
netsplit (third-person singular simple present netsplits, present participle netsplitting, simple past and past participle netsplitted)
(Internet, transitive) To leave an IRC server as a result of a netsplit.
A user on one side of a netsplit takes the nickname of a target on the other side of the split; when the servers reconnect, the nicks collide and both users are kicked from the server. Source: Internet
If two clients with the same nickname join from different sides of a netsplit ("nick collision"), the first server to see this collision will force both clients to change their nick to their UID, thus saving both clients from being disconnected. Source: Internet
Riding the split The most common variety of channel takeover uses disconnections caused by a netsplit ; this is called riding the split. Source: Internet
The idea behind this is that even if a netsplit occurs, it is useless to an abuser because they cannot take the nickname or gain operator status on a channel, and thus no collision of a nickname or 'merging' of a channel can occur. Source: Internet
When a netsplit occurs, two users on each side are free to use the same nickname or channel, but when the two sides are joined, only one can survive. Source: Internet