n. A gathering where people bring their own computers, connect them together into a local area network and then play computer games — particularly first-person shooter games — against each other.
2000
Players frequently get together at what are called LAN parties — short for Local Area Network — where scores of gamers link their computers together at one central location for a weekend of competition, Marler said.
Gamers find each other through Internet links such as http://www.lanparty.com.
Gamers find each other through Internet links such as http://www.lanparty.com.
1999
Forget about BYOB. This soiree is BYOPC — bring your own personal computer. The gathering is what's known as a LAN party, a celebration that centers around slaughtering one another's on-screen foes in the company of close friends.
1997 (earliest)
A full-scale battle is being fought with fierce intensity in Richmond this weekend — on computers.
It is a Lan Party, otherwise known as a local area network. And in the midst of a selection of computers and confusion of wires are about 15 young computer buffs engrossed in games linked up to the same network.
It is a Lan Party, otherwise known as a local area network. And in the midst of a selection of computers and confusion of wires are about 15 young computer buffs engrossed in games linked up to the same network.
Wired's Jargon Watcher Gareth Branwyn suggested this word.