* part of the smeared hash of the element not covered by the hashtable mask, whereas the low bits
   * are the "next" pointer (pointing to the next entry in the bucket chain), which will always be
   * less than or equal to the hashtable mask.
   *
   * <pre>
   * hash  = aaaaaaaa
   * mask  = 00000fff
   * next  = 00000bbb
   * entry = aaaaabbb
   * </pre>
   *

   * part of the smeared hash of the element not covered by the hashtable mask, whereas the low bits
   * are the "next" pointer (pointing to the next entry in the bucket chain), which will always be
   * less than or equal to the hashtable mask.
   *
   * <pre>
   * hash  = aaaaaaaa
   * mask  = 00000fff
   * next  = 00000bbb
   * entry = aaaaabbb
   * </pre>
   *