boot virus
An {MS-DOS} {virus} that infects the {boot record} program on
{hard disk}s and {floppy disk}s or the {master boot record} on
hard disks. The virus gets loaded into memory before {MS-DOS}
and takes control of the computer, infecting any floppy disks
subsequently accessed. An infected {boot disk} may stop the
computer starting up at all.
(1995-02-16)