brownout

• brown out, brown-out

Deverbal from brown out, by analogy with blackout.

brownout (plural brownouts)

1. A period of low alternating current line voltage, causing a reduction in illumination.

   Synonym: dimout

   When demand for electricity exceeds the available supply, a brownout occurs.

2. Temporary dimming of vision, usually with a brown hue and accompanied by loss of peripheral vision or tunnel vision.

   Synonyms: grayout, greyout

   On rising suddenly from her chair she experienced a brownout and had to sit down again quickly.

3. Temporary closing of a fire station, usually due to budget restrictions.

   Fire departments across the country have been forced to rely on rolling brownouts because of the recession.

4. A power outage during the day; distinguished from a blackout, which occurs at night
5. (Philippines, some other countries) A blackout, regardless of time of day.
   • 1991, Philippine Smile:

     Remember that you can't send or receive a fax if there is a brownout. ... Due to blackouts (the Philippine term is brownout), especially during the dry season, be prepared with a flashlight and don't forget to save your data in your PC.

• A rolling brownout describes a deliberate reduction in voltage (for sense 1) or of firefighting (for sense 3) in multiple service areas at staggered times.

• (all senses): blackout

• whiteout

• brownout on Wikipedia.Wikipedia