>timeout</code> - the time, in milliseconds, to wait for a message before
            returning null.</dd>
<dt><span class="returnLabel">Returns:</span></dt>
<dd>an <a href="../../../../com/ericsson/otp/erlang/OtpErlangObject.html" title="class in com.ericsson.otp.erlang"><code>OtpErlangObject</code></a> representing the body
         of the next message waiting in this mailbox.</dd>
<dt><span class="throwsLabel">Throws:</span></dt>
<dd><code><a href="../../../../com/ericsson/otp/erlang/OtpErlangDecodeExcep