crosstalk
UK: ˈkrɒstɔːk | US: ˈkrɔːstɔːk
n. 1. Interference or unintended signals in telecommunications caused by overlapping transmissions.
n. 2. A humorous or informal conversation between two or more people, often in a performance context.
The word "crosstalk" originated in the late 19th century, combining "cross" (from Old English "cros," meaning "across" or "intersecting") and "talk" (from Old English "tacan," meaning "speech" or "conversation"). Initially used in telecommunications to describe signal interference, it later evolved metaphorically to describe overlapping dialogue, especially in comedy or broadcasting. The logic reflects literal "crossing" of communication lines, whether electrical or verbal.
The phone line had so much crosstalk that the conversation was barely audible.
The comedians engaged in witty crosstalk during the live show.
Engineers reduced crosstalk by shielding the cables properly.
Their playful crosstalk kept the audience entertained throughout the interview.
In early radio broadcasts, crosstalk was a frequent technical challenge.