Cyclicity

In generative syntax, cyclicity is a basic notion of subjacency that movement is bounded, i.e. can only cross one bounding (or: cyclic) node at the time.

Comments
In general S (or S') and NP have been singled out as being bounding nodes. Originally, cyclicity was considered a property of rules or rule systems: a set of rules are to be applied cyclically to successively larger dominating constituents. Presently, cyclicity is subsumed under the barriers theory.

Link
Utrecht Lexicon of Linguistics