English

Noun

submachine ‎(plural submachines)

1. (computer science) A part of a real or virtual machine which acts as a machine in its own right
   • 1999, Martin Beran, “Decomposable Bulk Synchronous Parallel Computers”, in SOFSEM '99: Theory and Practice of Informatics, ISBN 354066694X, page 351:

     In the same computation, the computer may be decomposed repeatedly and the partitioning may vary from one split to the other. The submachines can further recursively decompose […]

Etymology 2

Shortened from submachine gun

Adjective

submachine ‎(not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to a submachine gun
   • 2003, Milt Bearden & James Risen, The Main Enemy, ISBN 0679463097, page 244:

     The body of one of the dead crewmen bounced and rolled a little as the submachine rounds ripped into it.