Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol
     
         (DHCP) A {protocol} that provides a means to
        dynamically allocate {IP address}es to computers on a {local
        area network}.  The {system administrator} assigns a range of
        IP addresses to DHCP and each client computer on the LAN has
        its {TCP/IP} software configured to request an IP address from
        the DHCP server.  The request and grant process uses a lease
        concept with a controllable time period.
     
        DHCP is defined in {RFC 2131}.
     
        {Microsoft} introduced DHCP on their {NT server} with version
        3.5 in late 1994.
     
        {(http://www.dhcp.org/)}.
     
        (1998-11-22)