1. A memory, comprising: a ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) memory unit configured to store a set of rules, the TCAM memory unit including: a plurality of stages 1 through H, each stage configured to: receive a respective segment of an input search key; and provide a result segment at an output of the stage, the result segment including, for each rule of the set of rules, a bit having a state that indicates whether or not the rule matches the respective segment of the input search key; a bitwise AND circuit coupled to outputs of stages 1 and 2 of the plurality of stages and configured to perform a bitwise AND of the result segments provided by the stages 1 and 2 and provide a combined result having, for each rule of the set of rules, a respective bit having a state that indicates if the rule matches both of the respective segments received by stages 1 and 2; for each stage X, wherein 3≦X≦H, a respective bitwise AND circuit coupled to stage X and configured to produce a combined result equal to a bitwise AND of the result segment provided by stage X and the combined result provided by the bitwise AND circuit coupled to stage X−1, the combined result having, for each rule of the set of rules, a respective bit having a state that indicates if the rule matches all of the respective segments received by stages 1 through X; and a status circuit configured to determine if the combined result produced by the bitwise AND circuit coupled to stage H indicates that one or more rules of the set of rules matches the input search key.