1. <hardware> Non-working due to hardware failure; burnt out.
Especially used of hardware brought down by a "power glitch"
(see glitch), drop-outs, a short, or some other electrical
event. (Sometimes this literally happens to electronic
circuits! In particular, resistors can burn out and
transformers can melt down, emitting noxious smoke - see
friode, SED and LER. However, this term is also used
metaphorically.) Compare frotzed.
2. <jargon> Of people, exhausted. Said particularly of those
who continue to work in such a state. Often used as an
explanation or excuse. "Yeah, I know that fix destroyed the
file system, but I was fried when I put it in." Especially
common in conjunction with "brain": "My brain is fried today,
I'm very short on sleep."
