power cycle

(v.t.) To turn an electrically-powered device off, then on again, as a form of resetting it. Usually done with a switch, as opposed to interrupt 110 with is often thought of as pulling the plug, and does not necessarily involve turning it back on again.

power cycle vt.

(also, `cycle power' or just `cycle') To power off a machine and then power it on immediately, with the intention of clearing some kind of hung or gronked state. Syn. 120 reset; see also Big Red Switch. Compare Vulcan nerve pinch, bounce (sense 4), and boot, and see the "Some AI Koans" (in Appendix A) about Tom Knight and the novice.

--The Jargon File version 4.3.1, ed. ESR, autonoded by rescdsk.