<defunct> why?

[Terry Lyons]

Hi ..
I keep having problems with <defunct> processes, I'm running SCO 
Xenix 2.3.1 when the program idleout or autologout find a 
program that has been idle for the required amount time it tries 
to kill the <defunct> processes BANG! Panic;Kernal 
error:Unrecoverable Page Fault 
press any key to reboot:

eh?
 
What IS a <defunct> process??

I'm getting "gunshy" about killing processes when the system is 
trying to play Russian roulette with its self!
or am I the only one that has this problem??????????
terry

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