The mystical field surrounding a 1980s home
computer, mainly the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, that must not be disturbed whilst the computer is loading software from audio cassette tapes. Some people performed highly sophisticated rituals to prevent loading errors, and others were convinced that games would not
load properly if their
mum asked them if they wanted a cup of
tea whilst loading.
Coined in the late 90s by a poster on comp.sys.sinclair, who mis-typed "chutney" - the word was then adopted by a fellow poster to describe the phenomenon above.