Who-athon

Makes me wish I had a VCR so I could blow the dust off of all my video tapes and have a Who-athon.

1993 November 25, Michele Paige Goudie, “Oh geeze, I missed it.”, in rec.arts.drwho (Usenet):

To set the scene for the new series, UKTV Gold is showing all of the last one, created by Russell T Davies and starring Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor and Billie Piper as his companion Rose. The Who-athon will screen from 11am-6pm on Saturday, and from 11am-6pm on Sunday.

2006 April 4, Martin, “Tennant's Extra”, in uk.media.tv.sf.drwho (Usenet):

But the Who'''-athon starts early on Saturday morning, with retrospectives on each doctor and classic episodes starting on UKTV at 6.30am and running throughout the day - and on Sunday, too.

2013 November 21, “TV picks of the week: A lesson in Who-story”, in The New Zealand Herald:

(informal) A marathon of the British science-fiction series Doctor Who.


stardrive

From star + drive.
From the ability of the drive to propel the vehicle to the stars.

Stardrive section of a Galaxy-class starship.
Memory Alpha, Secondary hull, 2005

Atlantis, utilizing its star drive, was able to travel from the Milky Way Galaxy to the Pegasus Galaxy, a distance of between 3.26 and 3.5 million light years.
GateWorld, Stardrive

Scorpio is damaged in a collision course with a asteroid and the Scorpio crew require a star-drive from Federation scientist Dr. Plaxton so they can out-run all Federation pursuit ships
IMDB, "Stardrive"

Nebula moved back to her main console and looked to the stardrive unit's monitors immediately discovering the grim truth.
iUniverse, "The Godmaker Legacy: The Derelict: A Novel", Kirkland D. Casey, 2003, pp.171, →ISBN

The StarDrive was discovered on the planet Centaurus
NESFA Hymnal, "Reminder", B. Coulson, 1976, pp.12

no star drive yet devised could produce that kind of acceleration
"Orbitsville Departure", B. Shaw, 1983, pp.190

Every race they met on their way through the Core had a 'star drive based on a different theory.
"Light", M.J. Harrison, 2002, pp.135

The voice of the Organic Computer began counting down the seconds until the star drive was cut
Amazing Stories, "We All Died At Breakaway Stations", B.C. Meredith, 1969

Man's horizons exploded to the rims of the universe with the perfection of the star drive
Astounding SF, "Blood's Rover", C. Oliver, 1952

They'll know the principles of the star drive in a few more generations
Astounding SF, "Genius", P. Anderson, 1948

We will have to wait until they move off. I should be able to calculate their direction and get a rough idea of the distance from the power signature when they activate their Stardrive
Aliens, "Guardian Generations", Clive Osborne Rapley, 2010, pp.67, →ISBN

When they engaged the Star Drive to escape, the hunter mine had closed to ninety metres, inside the Star Drive's field of influence.
Trafford Publishing, "Origin: The Heritage Files - Phase One", Roger Hydes, 2008, →ISBN

—or century: humans can endure star-drive!
Arc Manor, "The Colors of Space", Marion Zimmer Bradley, 2008, pp.97, →ISBN

He was also beginning to lose faith that the recently recovered and bizarrely incoherent Ehrehin was really capable of delivering a working singularity- powered stardrive prototype any time in the foreseeable future.
Simon and Schuster, "The Star Trek: Enterprise: The Good That Men Do", Andy Mangels, Michael A. Martin, 2007, pp.434, →ISBN

Whatever kind of creatures they were, and whatever the disaster that threatened their planet, they had a star-drive to take them out of the solar system to another star.
Prologue Books, "Scavengers in Space", Alan E. Nourse, 2013, →ISBN

What could be gleaned from study of the landing craft was as far from the stardrive as their first steam engine had been from that spaceship itself; there was no chance of premature contact with other races.
"The Far Side of Evil", Sylvia Louise Engdahl, 1989, pp.158

(science fiction) a device used to propel a spacecraft through interstellar distances


Trekverse

No, he [Picard] was French but his accent confuses anybody who doesn't know him…
Or maybe in the Trekverse, France is a part of the United Kingdom...

2002 March 22, machf [username], “Re: ENTERPRISE="AMERICANS IN SPACE"?”, in rec.arts.startrek.current (Usenet):

Most internet Trek role-plays have rules to prevent people from creating super-techs or acting like a superhero because it is not realistic in the Trekverse.

2003 January 4, Baggers [username], “Re: New Shielding......?”, in uk.media.tv.sf.startrek (Usenet):

This is Uhura's – and Uhura's fans' – big moment, the moment in which she blazingly comes alive as a member of the Trekverse.

2009, David Greven, Gender and Sexuality in Star Trek: Allegories of Desire in the Television Series and Films, McFarland & Company, →ISBN, page 216:

(fandom slang) The fictional universe which serves as the setting for the Star Trek television series and films, as well as related novels, comics, etc.


Trekiverse

I was looking more for episodes like this, which deal with the repurcussions^([sic]) of a major war affecting every major civilisation known to the Trekiverse.

1999 March 5, Reverend Sean O'Hara, “[DS9] The Reverend's Review: Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges”, in rec.arts.startrek.current (Usenet):

Or have the dying redshirt of the week say goodbye to his male friend instead of his girl. That's all it would take to establish that it's okay to be out of the closet in the Trekiverse.

2000 October 26, Arlie, “Re: What a f*cking insensitive comment!!! (minor spoilage)”, in alt.tv.star-trek.voyager (Usenet):

IIRC, the official explanation is currently that human history in the Trekiverse diverged from our history in the mid-20th century, due to the cumulative effect of multiple visitations from the future.

2001 September 24, Paul David John Andinach, “Re: [I] ST: Generations (was:Live broadcast / weather)”, in alt.fan.pratchett (Usenet):


Bondverse

But he's _comparatively_ much better then^([sic]) the rest of the agents out there (which says a lot about the spy community in the Bondverse).

2002 April 24, Eric Tolle, “Re: Spycraft (full): d20 with spies just ain't spies?”, in rec.games.frp.misc (Usenet):

The only thing fantastic about the one in the Bondverse was that they didn't show you the specifics of how it was going to gather all that light in, and the amazing control and specificity of it.

2003 January 13, Sea Wasp [username], “Re: Babelicious Actresses (WAS Hairy Numenoreans)”, in rec.arts.sf.written (Usenet):

Completely perverse of me, but I adore Denise Richards in TWINE -- in the Bondverse, of course Denise Richards is a nuclear scientist.

2005 March 29, John Harkness, “Re: best bond girl?”, in rec.arts.movies.past-films (Usenet):

(fandom slang) The fictional universe which serves as the setting for the James Bond novels and films.


swordstress

That warrior is Han (Lou Ferrigno) who joins with Sybil Danning (as a good-natured swordstress) and five other muscular heroes to fight to the death with Vadis.

1988, John Stanley, Revenge of the Creature Features Movie Guide: An A to Z Encyclopedia to the Cinema of the Fantastic, Or, Is There a Mad Doctor in the House?, Creatures at Large Press, →ISBN, page 313:

John's chosen character is Xianghua, a slight swordstress who specializes in hopping around and skewering people.

2004 August, Luke Dittrich, “Play Money”, in Atlanta, page 35:

It didn't matter whether we traveled with a fiery-tempered swordstress, or a vain Trickster God.

2013, Anthony Mercier, Akin Minds, Xlibris, →ISBN, page 172:


bioreading

(science fiction) A measurement of the presence and properties of a living thing.


sparklepire

From the bloated, purple-faced, shroud-wrapped corpse feared throughout Europe in the 18th century to the ‘sparklepire’ brought into vogue by Stephenie Meyer, the vampire as a concept has come a long way since its folkloric origins, and horror and paranormal romance authors have brought the entire concept to an interesting evolutionary point.

2009 August 16, Janet Neilson, “The Evolution of Vampire in Fiction”, in Hub Magazine, number 95, page 5:

This probably includes: talking donkeys, gods, flying dragons, garden fairies, vampires, sparklepires, ghosts, and Harry Potter.

2012 April 2, Kermit [username], “Re: I am now a Creationist”, in talk.origins (Usenet):

KEVIN: Well, that's your classic vamp. Now factor in your Nosferatu, your Twilight sparklepires, your Thirty Days of Night nocturnal shark people and the hundred of variations on the classic...

2012 October 11, Freezer [username], “[MSTing] Unbreak My Spark - Part 4”, in rec.arts.tv.mst3k.misc (Usenet):

(fandom slang, humorous) A vampire who sparkles, such as those featured in the Twilight series.


holorecording

(science fiction) A holographic recording.


glampire

Well, it's basically a supernatural Dawson's Creek—a humiliatingly addictive soap opera in the meadows, with glampire Edward (Pattinson) as Dawson and Native American beefcake Jacob (Taylor Lautner) as Pacey.

2009 November 19, Aaron Mesh, “Women Who Run With the Werewolves: New Moon Reviewed”, in Willamette Week:

“Because they couldn't even tell a real vampire from a glampire. Lucy didn't know anything.”

2011, Hannah Jayne, Under Wraps, Kensington Books, →ISBN, page 171:

[…] Anyway, you have to go to Annandale today. It's your cure day surprise. You get to kill a glampire."
"Christ. One of those vampire poseurs?"
"Oh yes. With the white face paint and dopey satanic rituals and everything. […]

2011, Drew Magary, The Postmortal, Penguin Books, →ISBN:

(slang, sometimes used attributively) A glamorous or beautiful vampire; a person who pretends to be a vampire.


gentlebeing

From gentle + being, modelled on gentleman.

Ladies and gentlebeings, let me introduce to you Doctor N'looma and her assistant L'raan, the Yularians who, along with other medical staff, were instrumental in giving me a new lease on life!

2016, James R. Lane, Last Dance of the Phoenix, page 204:

(science fiction, usually in the plural, sometimes humorous) Polite term of address for any sentient being, human or otherwise.


starfighter

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-starfighter.wav

(science fiction) A fictional type of spacecraft that is intended to be used like a fighter plane in outer space.


starcruiser

(science fiction) A spaceship analogous to a cruiser.


antiacceleration

en-adj

antiacceleration (comparative more antiacceleration, superlative most antiacceleration)

more antiacceleration (comparative)
most antiacceleration (superlative)

(science fiction) Preventing or counteracting acceleration.


fleshling

(fantasy, science fiction, derogatory) A creature made of flesh; a human being.


werejackal

(fiction) A shapeshifter who can assume the shape of a jackal.


Colemanballs

From Coleman + balls (“nonsense”), from the football commentator David Coleman. Originally the title of a column in Private Eye magazine collecting mistakes in sports commentary.

On a point of order, Miss Fookes. Is it in order for my hon. Friend to use a Colemanballs in this Committee?

1984, Brian Sedgemore, “Official Report of the Standing Committees: Session 1983–1984”, in parliamentary debates (House of Commons, Parliament of the United Kingdom), volume 2, page 95, column 1:

British TV viewers may think themselves lucky that all they got for commentary on the last Olympics was the usual load of Colemanballs

1987 October 16, Rayner Banham, “On the Wings of Wonder”, in New Society, volume 82, number 1294, pages 18–20:

It is footballers though, rather than commentators, presenters or pundits, who when interviewed have provided some of the best Colemanballs.

2004, George Best, Scoring At Half-Time: Adventures On and Off the Pitch, →ISBN, page 259:

I read out a quote from Harry Cavan, who was Northern Ireland's FIFA representative. He had made a Colemanballs with "The Scots are still refusing to meet us in Belfast, so we may have to compromise on this and meet them halfway."

2011, Bob Bevan, Nearly Famous: Adventures of an After-Dinner Speaker, →ISBN:

(UK) A malapropism, mixed metaphor or other humorous misspeaking, especially in sports commentary.


hypertravel

(science fiction) travel through hyperspace


cryokinetic

Iceman is a Cryokinetic, meaning he can absorb and displace thermal energy from the air and objects around him. By freezing water particles, he can materialize solid objects out of thin air.

2006, X-Men III: The Official Game Guide, Brady, →ISBN, page 15:

Cryokinetics are especially helpful around avalanches and icebergs. They are also immune to frostbite.

2007, Sherrilyn Kenyon, The Dark-Hunter Companion, St. Martin's Press, →ISBN:

She fought off her smile, feeling guilty that everyone else suffered while she had fun. "What are Frosters?"
Dex rested his cheek against the table. "Cryokinetics. They freeze things by manipulating the ice particles in the air. […]

2013, Shannon Messenger, Keeper of the Lost Cities, Aladdin, →ISBN, page 285:


Saguenay

From Innu shakaikanipeiau, (river which widens to form a lake).

a legendary kingdom in present-day Quebec


astral body

"I suppose I am not talking to you at all. You are in Thibet with Shere Ali. This is your astral body, and if I were near enough, I could poke my fingers right through you, as you sit there, telling me you are an Edinburgh doctor, forsooth."
"Quite right, Mr. Griggs. At the present moment my body is quietly asleep in a lamastery in Thibet, and this is my astral shape.

1882, F. Marion Crawford, chapter 13, in Mr. Isaacs:

"I kept the Jewel within my great safe, whence none could extract it; not even Queen Tera herself with her astral body."

1903, Bram Stoker, chapter 15, in The Jewel of Seven Stars:

"You fool, have I no means of searching other than in the physical?" cried the man wrathfully. "I have been looking for him from the other side. It is as easy for me to use my astral body as this physical one."

1912, Fergus Hume, chapter 20, in A Son of Perdition: An Occult Romance:

I am not ready to ridicule the claim of the Yogi adepts, that they are able to project some kind of astral body, and to communicate with one another from distant places.

1917, Upton Sinclair, The Profits of Religion […] , book 6:

The voice in this case belongs to a lovely lady who has been most foully stabbed and while her body remains in a thug-infested old manse her astral body goes to ask Topper's assistance—probably the first instance on record in which the murdered victim was the first to inform the public.

1941 March 28, T. S., “Movie Review: Topper Returns (1941)”, in New York Times, retrieved 2014-04-09:

(parapsychology, theosophy, fantasy) A ghost-like replica of one's physical body which supposedly inhabits or is somehow associated with the physical body, conceived as a subtle body composed of some sort of ethereal material or as being non-physical and capable of sometimes separating from the physical body to travel to other places or to other realms of existence.


holovision

They'll be materializing before them in the special reception chambers, transmitted by way of the wires and beams, and reproduced by the three-dimensional holovision system in all their natural solidity.

1968, Michael Frayn, A Very Private Life, Collins, page 4:

But pass up the sci-fi stuff for now, like for instance the holovision technology that's put TV and radio in museums.

1973 October, James Tiptree, Jr., “The Girl Who Was Plugged In”, in Robert Silverberg, editor, New Dimensions 3, page 81:

Flinging open the control booth door, he sprinted around the carpeted perimeter behind the array of holovision cameras.

2003 February 1, William Walling, Triage, Virtualbookworm.com, →ISBN:

(science fiction) holographic television


memory hole

From memory + hole. Sense 1 (“figurative place to which information is deliberately sent to be forgotten, or to which forgotten or lost information ends up”) is a transferred use of the physical slots which the English writer George Orwell (1903–1950) refers to in his novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), into which censored documents for destruction are dropped.

As relations between the West and Russia grew worse, the party began to discard its patriotic draperies; everything that had been said during the war years was now quietly dropped into the memory hole.

1957, Irving Howe, Lewis Coser, with the assistance of Julius Jacobson, “The Cold War: Repression and Collapse”, in The American Communist Party: A Critical History (1919–1957), Boston, Mass.: Beacon Press, →OCLC, page 453:

President [Richard] Nixon didn't even blush when he claimed that the raise in the debt limit was "in the interest of responsible management." If it were already 1984, all of Nixon's old speeches about the government squandering our money could be shoved into the "memory hole."

1969 July 2, John R[ichard] Rarick, “Challenge to America, 1969”, in Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 91st Congress, First Session (United States House of Representatives), volume 115, part 14, Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 18349, column 1:

[T]he innermost circle of the Stalinist limbo was occupied by the Damned. The Damned were by no means exponents of an alien ideology. On the contrary, they were numbered among the true believers—they were Communists. But despite superhuman efforts to obey the all-wise party, they nevertheless fell by the wayside and were swept into the memory hole.

1970 January–February, Hugh McLean, “Et Resurrexerunt: How Writers Rise from the Dead”, in Abraham Brumberg, editor, Problems of Communism, volume XIX, number 1, Washington, D.C.: United States Information Agency, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 17, column 2:

After a few more years [Leon] Trotsky's name disappeared down the "memory hole," and the Red Army became a fully professional force in which certain selected values and traditions of the old army were resurrected and even made the object of a veritable cult.

1986 October 1, John L[eslie] H[oward] Keep, Soldiering in Tsarist Russia (The Harmon Memorial Lectures in Military History; 29), El Paso County, Colo.: United States Air Force Academy, →OCLC, page 1:

Jiang Zemin has almost managed to make the event disappear down an Orwellian memory hole. Even in Western countries, sub-editors have taken to calling it the ‘Tiananmen crackdown’, rather than ‘massacre’, making it seem as insignificant as the endless stories about routine ‘crackdowns’ on smuggling, prostitution, counterfeit goods, VAT forms or corruption, which provide the stuff of daily reporting here in China.

2001 May 24, Jasper Becker, “‘Comrade Jiang Zemin Does Indeed Seem a Proper Choice’ [review of The Tiananmen Papers (2001) by Zhang Liang]”, in Mary-Kay Wilmers, editor, London Review of Books, volume 23, number 10, London: LRB Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-12-06:

The painstaking work of scientists, the reasoned deliberations of the President's Science Advisory Committee, and the bipartisan American agreement to ban DDT have been flushed down the memory hole, along with the well-documented and easily found (but extremely inconvenient) fact that the most important reason that DDT failed to eliminate malaria was because insects evolved.

2011, Naomi Oreskes, Erik M[eade] Conway, “Denial Rides Again: The Revisionist Attack on Rachel Carson”, in Merchants of Doubt: How a Handful of Scientists Obscured the Truth on Issues from Tobacco Smoke to Global Warming, New York, N.Y.: Bloomsbury Press, →ISBN, page 236:

A figurative place to which information is deliberately sent to be forgotten, or to which forgotten or lost information ends up; nowhere, oblivion.

ثقب الذاكرة

A memory hole provides performance improvement by reserving certain parts of memory for use by ISA cards. […] The memory hole is usually disabled because there are few ISA cards today that need to be mapped. If you have an ISA card that refuses to function properly in a PC with more than 16MB of RAM, you should enable the memory hole.

1997, Stephen J. Bigelow, “System Questions”, in PC Hardware FAT FAQs: Troubleshooting, Upgrading, Maintaining, and Repairing, New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill, →ISBN, pages 11–12:

We won't touch high ISA memory (the so-called memory hole in the 14 MB to 16 MB physical address range), because that kind of I/O memory is extremely rare nowadays and is not supported by the majority of modern motherboards or by the kernel.

2001 June, Alessandro Rubini, Jonathan Corbet, “Hardware Management”, in Andy Oram, editor, Linux Device Drivers, 2nd edition, Sebastopol, Calif.: O’Reilly & Associates, →ISBN, page 245:

A fragment of physical address space which does not map to main memory.

tyhjä osoitealue

The use of new and delete, along with the scope related creation and deletion of objects, provide safer and more consistent management of the available memory pool. […] It also resolves common problems with passing incorrect pointers to free, or obtaining memory using malloc and then forgetting to free it (causing a memory hole). This typically occurs when a subroutine allocates some memory via malloc, and during some processing a premature return taken that does not free the allocated memory.

1992 September 9, Andrew McRae, “C++ in an Embedded Environment”, in AUUG 1992 Conference & Exhibition: Maintaining Control in an Open World: World Congress Centre, Melbourne, Australia, 8–11 September 1992: Conference Proceedings, Kensington, N.S.W.: AUUG, →ISBN, paragraph 5.5, page 5:

When Lighttpd finishes, it calls mod_helloworld_free to release the memory held by plugin_data. Beware that not freeing the plugin_data creates a memory hole.

2008, Andre Bogus, “Writing Lighttpd Modules”, in Lighttpd: Installing, Compiling, Configuring, Optimizing, and Securing this Lighting-fast Web Server, Birmingham, West Midlands: Packt Publishing, →ISBN:

(rare) Synonym of memory leak (“any of several faults in the memory allocation logic of a computer or program whereby parts of memory become hidden or unusable”)


dirtside

Many spacers hated leaving port – any port – and so spent as much time dirtside as possible. One evening, all three of these factors lined up in my favor. Kelly and John were dirtside, keeping an eye on Boris and the auctioneer, and Captain Gus was topside, supervising loading of supplies. Our new crewmembers were still dirtside as well, partying before shipping out.

(science fiction) On the surface of a planet or moon (i.e. not in space)


dirtsider

He really hadn't been in space before. You can always tell a dirtsider by the twinkle in their eyes at the idea of seeing their planet from above.

1998, Jerry Oltion, Where Sea Meets Sky, Pocket Books, →ISBN, page 23:

So you tell me, Senyor Parrige, how many habitats would be willing to take on their maximum possible population load in the form of half-starved, uneducated, indigent, disease-ridden dirtsiders who know nothing of habitat life and have no skills that are of much use in space?

2001, Roger MacBride Allen, The Depths of Time, Random House, →ISBN, page 378:

As a dirtsider, the idea of dying in the cold of space terrified him, though he'd never admit it to his space-loving mate.

2010, Shayla Kersten, Angel Moon, Ellora's Cave, →ISBN, page 52:

(science fiction, often derogatory) Someone who lives on the surface of a planet or moon, as opposed to in space.


Galactic

The sepoy spoke again. The meaning of the words finally penetrated. Oddly, Agayan was surprised more by the fact of those words than their actual content. He had not realized that Gha could speak Galactic beyond a few crude and simple phrases.

2001, Eric Flint, “Carthago Delenda Est”, in Foreign Legions, Riverdale, N.Y.: Baen Books, →ISBN, page 253:

universal language
universal language#Noun

(science fiction, fantasy) Denoting the name of a universal language spoken throughout a galaxy in various works.


quasit

Introduced in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.

"Quasits are natural cowards. When minor demons become so bold, their more powerful brethren cannot be far behind."

2006, Matt Forbeck, Prophecy of the Dragons, page 6:

Shadows on the ground moved as the quasits chased us […]

2012, Ann Aguirre, Devil's Punch: A Corine Solomon Novel:

(fantasy) A small horned humanoid demon with a long tail.


Voldemort

After the evil wizard Lord Voldemort in Harry Potter, coined by author J. K. Rowling as a compound of French vol de mort (“flight/theft from death”). The verb sense comes from the fact that in the story, many characters refuse to call Voldemort by his proper name, calling him euphemisms such as "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" or "You-Know-Who". Also, Voldemort puts an enchantment on his own name that alerts him when others speak it.

der

[…] Oscar has been called the Voldemort of Fleet Street by both friends and enemies. He was apparently ruthless in all his business dealings.'

2012, G. M. Malliet, A Fatal Winter, Constable & Robinson, published 2012, →ISBN:

If you asked me to identify a Voldemort in the myth of “social media,” it would be these people, and not guys like Gary Vaynerchuk.

2012, B. J. Mendelson, Social Media Is Bullshit, St. Martin's Press, published 2012, →ISBN:

Fructose is the Voldemort of the metabolic syndrome pandemic: stealthy, ever-present, and bad for the common good.

2013, Robert H. Lustig, Heather Millar, & Cindy Gershen, The Fat Chance Cookbook: More Than 100 Recipes Ready in Under 30 Minutes to Help You Lose the Sugar and the Weight, Hudson Street Press, published 2013, →ISBN:

An evil, harmful, or widely feared person or thing.


Voldemortesque

en-adj

Voldemortesque (comparative more Voldemortesque, superlative most Voldemortesque)

more Voldemortesque (comparative)
most Voldemortesque (superlative)

January is when most dwellers are seriously starting to look rather Voldemortesque avec alabaster lustre.

2012, Karen De Villiers, "In the leaving", The South African, Issue 445, 10 January 2012 - 16 January 2012, page 6

Then, a Voldemortesque colleague steals the gene from the axolotl lab and develops a technique to splice it into to^([sic]) mouse DNA.

2013 April 11, Jef Akst, “Review: Errors of the Human Body”, in The Scientist:

It's skiing's dirty little fashion secret — the Voldemortesque “he who must not be named” that lurks deep in the darkest closet of the alpine apparel world.

2013, Michael Mastarciyan, "The one-piece", S-Magazine, Volume 7, Number 1, Winter 2013, page 56

Having similar traits to the fictional evil wizard Voldemort from the Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling.


antigraviton

(chiefly science fiction) The hypothetical antipartner of a graviton.


elf arrow

From the folk belief that they were used by elves.

When they want beef or mutton on any festal occasion, they betake themselves to the Shetlanders' scatholds or townmails, and with elf-arrows bring down their game.

1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume I, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 262:

(folklore, fantasy) A magical arrow (weapon) used by elves or other mythological beings.


merteen

In the “how to make a porn video” within the video, Sprinkle plays an older mermaid who sexually initiates a “merteen” played by Sirena.

2000 February 8, Virginia Vitzthum, “Annie Sprinkle swims forward”, in Salon:

Realization filled the merteen's eyes with sadness.

2005, Rachel Roberts, The Heart of Avalon, CDS Books, →ISBN, page 120:

I paddle board, boogie board, and I use a monofin when I swim. You put your two feet in a fin and workout in the water. It’s a great way for merfolk—mermen, merteens, whoever—to connect with the water.

2012 July 27, Maria Denardo, “Rockefeller's Center”, in The Daily Dan:


merlad

The merlad and merlass watched the sphere for a moment and with a flick of their shiny tails, vanished again.

2003, Susan K. Hamilton, Darkstar Rising, Xlibris, published 2003, →ISBN, page 433:

I have to admit, he's a handsome merlad with his beautiful brown eyes, shiny black hair, and dark brown skin, but I can't have a boyfriend.

2006, S. L. Bynum, Kalena, the Sea Princess, Lulu, published 2006, →ISBN, page 10:

“At first everyone was standoffish and now they're too friendly,” Thorgil complained, swiping at a merlad who was attempting to grab her hair.

2009, Nancy Farmer, The Islands of the Blessed, Simon & Schuster, published 2009, →ISBN:

(fantasy) A young male merperson, male equivalent of mermaid


merguy

"I don't know. But he's still breathing, or whatever it is merguys do. We've got to try and revive him somehow," said Sabrina thoughtfully.

1999, Ellen Titlebaum, Sabrina Down Under, Archway, →ISBN, page 32:

Step right up and see the merboy, merguy, merman. Where does his ding-dong go?

2012, Zoraida Cordova, The Vicious Deep, Sourcebooks Fire, →ISBN:

“Here, entertain yourself. I'm only expecting merguys to be at the meeting today, and there are no pictures of them.” Either the male mers didn't get out much or, more likely, men had written all the history books.

2012, Suzanne Johnson, River Road, Tor, →ISBN:


merprincess

Ariel is a merprincess who finds life in the sea under the protective eye of her father to be a type of imprisonment.

1997, Carleton Papers in Applied Language Studies, volumes 14-19, page 109:

We have the merprince and merprincess and tonight we will finish defeating the soldiers at the mercastle.

2003, Gretel Killeen, My Sister's a Sea Slug, Random House Children's Publishing UK, published 2012, →ISBN:

“As long as that merprincess is out there, the more that city will crumble and die. […]

2013, Cheri Jones, The Adventures of a Mermaid Princess, Trafford Publishing, →ISBN, page 26:


merprince

She sighed audibly when the merprince rescued the young mermaid and whisked her away to his kingdom as his bride, thus ending the story.

2005, Tracey V. Bateman, Kansas Home: Hearts Adrift Find a Place to Dwell in Four Romantic Stories, Barbour Publishing Incorporated, →ISBN, page 49:

Down the beach, a group of mergirls and boys were facing off with the same merprince who'd spoken through the mirror.

2005, Rachel Roberts, The Heart of Avalon, CDS Books, →ISBN, page 18:


merdaughter

The Sea King's merdaughters have only one tail.

1993, Todd Strasser, Mark Rifkin, & Gil DiCicco, Disney's the Villian's Collection: Stories from the Films, Disney Press, →ISBN, page 61:

He does this again in Action Comics #224 (Sep. 1958) in which he meets a merman, Vul-Kor and his merdaughter, Lya-La, […]

2012, Lori Maguire, “Supervillains and Cold War Tensions in the 1950s”, in Joseph J. Darowski, editor, The Ages of Superman: Essays on the Man of Steel in Changing Times, McFarland & Company, →ISBN, page 21:

Below, a concert is underway by Triton (Martin Lopez), the sea king’s Merdaughters (Dakota Booher, Lexi Jusino, Ashley Moller, Lara Monti, Clare Pepe, Sarah Vidal), written by court composer, Sebastian (Kenny Copeland).

2013 April 23, Nancy Horak, “The Little Mermaid Broadway-Style”, in The Magazine of Santa Clarita:


schmoop

Mulder/Krycek and a bowl of kittens, what more could you want from schmoop?

1999 April 3, Drovar [username], “Re: Slash Suggestions?”, in alt.tv.x-files.creative (Usenet):

Would someone please give me some M/K or Sk/K or M/K/Sk or K/Sp or M/Sp or Sk/Sp (you get the picture) recs on some super super, sugar sugar, sweet sweet, honey-dipped, cavity-causing schmoop or hurt/comfort slash?

1999 May 3, geoffrey2 [username], “Re: Sugar sweet syrupy schmoopy slash”, in alt.tv.x-files.creative.mature (Usenet):

Oh, and schmoop - this chapter's got a great heap of schmoop, but there'll be plenty of angst as well, not to fear.

2003 July 2, nik_cleo [username], “[atxc-pi] NEW: Life's Little Quirks, Part Three -R- (1/1)”, in alt.tv.x-files.creative (Usenet):

(fandom slang) Fan fiction, or part of a fan fiction, which is sweetly romantic or cute, usually to a degree considered maudlin.


schmoopy

schmoopy (comparative schmoopier, superlative schmoopiest)

schmoopier (comparative)
schmoopiest (superlative)

Ah... I find that the best way to maintain joyous shipperhood is to not read much schmoopy shipper fic.

1999 July 22, Kipler [username], “Re: Mulder/Scully "relationship"”, in alt.tv.x-files.analysis (Usenet):

Nothing wrong with schmoopy fic Ingrid...

2002 September 7, Carolin, “Re: A What if.....?”, in alt.tv.smallville (Usenet):

That "Barbie Shippers" faction of XF fandom is currently cloistering itself somewhere in really dreadful, schmoopy fanfic where no other character threatens the purity of their "deep, abiding luv".

2005 June 25, campylobacter [username], “Re: Never Again question”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

(fandom slang) Characteristic of schmoop; maudlin.


schmoopiness

Warnings on the series: Contains post-Emily angst. Some Mulder/Scully schmoopiness, but emphasis on UST.

1998 August 3, JenRose [username], “New! Facing Janus chap 5 (actually a repost, but hey...)”, in alt.tv.x-files.creative (Usenet):

A bit more angst than schmoopiness, but the underlying feelings are very well communicated.

1999 April 3, | vlbb | [username], “Re: Slash Suggestions?”, in alt.tv.x-files.creative (Usenet):

I'm all for earthy romance. I know a lot of folks abhor schmoopiness, and I'm not comfortable with the term schmoopy, but I'd love to see some long romantic kisses, or just one.

2000 July 4, Deborah, “Re: "Powerful good news"?”, in alt.tv.x-files.analysis (Usenet):

(fandom slang) The state or quality of being schmoopy.


shipperhood

This ep pushed me off the fence and right into full-fledged shipperhood ( I WANT TO BELIEVE !!!)

1997 February 3, Colleen Sullivan-Baier, “Re: "Never Again"”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

Look, it's all happy and hopeful and absolutely wonderful--but I need more to sustain my Odo/Kira shipperhood!

2002 September 21, Tori Sky, “Re: FB: DS9: Edge of the World 1/2 (O/K; NC-17)”, in alt.startrek.creative.erotica.moderated (Usenet):

(fandom slang) The state or quality of being a shipper.


noromoness

I vacillate between shipperhood and noromoness…call me a "noshow")...

1998 June 25, LSCHWABEN [username], “Re: Just Got Back From The Movie(Read with caution if you haven't seen it yet)”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

Did I even mention him? I was just asserting my noromoness.

1999 September 7, Laura Capozzola, “Re: 10EPS!! Just kiss the ship goodbye”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

I will concede that a part of my noromoness is simply based on not wanting to see someone I like (Mulder) become romantically involved with someone I don't like (Scully).

2000 February 6, adhokk7 [username], “Re: (NRMTPB): S&W (long)”, in alt.tv.x-files (Usenet):

(X-Files fandom slang) The state or quality of being a noromo.


file off the serial numbers

en-verb

file off the serial numbers (third-person singular simple present files off the serial numbers, present participle filing off the serial numbers, simple past and past participle filed off the serial numbers)

files off the serial numbers (present singular third-person)
filing off the serial numbers (participle present)
filed off the serial numbers (participle past)
filed off the serial numbers (past)

From the practice of filing the serial numbers off of firearms in order to make their origin and ownership difficult to trace.

For a while now, I've been pottering away at a Star Wars fanfic novella ([URL redacted], if you must know). I've received a few pokes about filing off the serial numbers and trying to sell it as an independent work.

1998 March 6, Julie Lim, “Help!”, in rec.arts.sf.composition (Usenet):

I've heard a rumor that Bujold started the Barrayar series as Star Trek fanfic, and there's enough resemblance there to make that seem very plausible to me. Suppose she did. By filing off the serial numbers, she was able to make the universe her own, to change as she needed to.

2002 January 15, David Thornley, “Re: harry potter”, in rec.games.int-fiction (Usenet):

I say “may have” because [E. L.] James has “filed off the serial numbers” of her fanfic.

2012 April 1, Elizabeth Tai, “Quantity over quality?”, in The Star, Malaysia:

(fandom slang, idiomatic) To remove the copyrighted elements from an existing work of fan fiction so that it may be commercially published as original fiction.


photobank

No selenium, no photo-cell banks. No photobanks – well, death by slow broiling is one of the more unpleasant ways of being done in.

(science fiction) A bank of photoelectric cells.


actifan

If you even read StF you'll do. You don't have to be an actifan, just so you read StF.

1947 January, Startling Stories, volume 14, number 3:

Really, I seem to have reversed things a little by being a letter-hack after becoming an actifan.

1955 Summer, Ted E. White, “The Vizigraph”, in Planet Stories, volume 6, number 11, page 92:

Actifans end up feeling they're being forced to pay for other people's "good time" and realize the mere attendance of these other-media fans means they will have to pay (through increased membership fees) for things SF Worldcons once got for free.

1994, Joseph L. Sanders, Science Fiction Fandom, →ISBN, page 94:

(dated, fandom slang) A person, particularly a fan of science fiction, involved in fanac or fan activity.


trufan

From tru- (“true, genuine”) + fan. The irregular plural is derived from fen, itself formed in anology with men and women.

On either side of him were numerous parks and gardens, great and small, and of varying types of beauty, and in them walked shining, godlike figures whom he knew to be Trufans.

1954 February 13, Walt Willis, Bob Shaw, chapter 18, in The Enchanted Duplicator, page 26:

And even though I have gone on to find other interests, I remain at heart a "trufan."

1975 March, Joe Pumilia, “The Vulcan Invasion”, in KPFT, volume 2, number 7, page 1:

It is difficult to put into words, but for the "trufan" science-fiction or the magazines entered his life more than a hobby and only a little less than a vocation. Over and over one encounters the statement that when a trufan discovered science-fiction he/she found a fulfillment.

1998, Everett Franklin Bleiler, Science-fiction: The Gernsback Years, →ISBN, Introduction, page xxix:

(fandom slang) A very active and dedicated fan, particularly of science fiction.


conworld

From constructed world; equivalent to con- (“constructed”) + world.

However, you will have created a pile of crossword puzzles you'll be proud to submit to Will Shortz, or a conworld that's so rich and real the inhabitants have actually attained sapience and now worship you as their god.

2007, Ron Hale-Evans, Marty Hale-Evans, Mindhacker: 60 Tips, Tricks, and Games to Take Your Mind to the Next Level, Wiley Publishing, published 2011, →ISBN:

The most respected languages in the conlang community often have years of work behind them, and may even be attached to whole "conworlds" or "concultures" that help give them coherence and a model "literature."

2009, Arika Okrent, In the Land of Invented Languages: Esperanto Rock Stars, Klingon Poets, Loglan Lovers, and the Mad Dreamers Who Tried to Build A Perfect Language, Spiegel & Grau, published 2009, →ISBN, page 287:

[…] in my conworld Almea the great navigators of southern Ereláe were the Jei, and undoubtedly Jei-based pidgins sprung up.

2012, Mark Rosenfelder, Advanced Language Construction, →ISBN, page 78:

An imaginary world, especially one with highly-detailed cultures, languages, and geography.


passifan

Passifan: The "unawakened" Fan, interested now only in reading the magazines and books; not yet participating in any activities.

c. 1944, Forrest J Ackerman, Fantasy Flanguage:

I learned that last phrase from a femme passifan Miss Marlene Maples.

1948 December, J. Harmon, Thrilling Wonder Stories, volume 33, number 2:

(dated, fandom slang) A fan, particularly of science fiction, who watches and reads the genre but does not actively engage in fanac, or fan activity.


femme fan

en-noun

femme fan (plural femme fans or femme fen)

Here was a picture whose screen fortunes must have caused much uncertainty as to the femme fan reaction. As it turns out all the signs are that the woman angle is favorable and that sets the picture for better than average money at the box office

1931 February 18, Alfred Rushford Greason, “Dracula”, in Variety:

Samuel Merwin, Jr., editor of Thrilling Wonder Stories, said much the same when he lamented in the December, 1946 (p. 100) that he didn't have a letter from a "femme fan" to publish that month and encouraged his female readers to send in letters.

1946 December, Eric Leif Davin, quoting Samuel Merwin, Jr., Partners in Wonder, published 2006, →ISBN:

Both reviews singled out the fact that Como's songs were greeted by a "frenzied screaming from the teenage femme fan fringe that follows Como around."

c. 1953, Malcolm Macfarlane, Ken Crossland, Perry Como: A Biography and Complete Career Record, published 2009, →ISBN, page 86:

Trust a femme-fan to start a stream-of-consciousness conversation every time.

1959, Terry Carr, Ron Ellik (as Carl Brandon), “The End”, in The BNF of Iz, archived from the original on 2013-07-21:

(dated, fandom slang) A female fan, particularly of science fiction.


femfan

Fannes — Pronounced the same as "fans," but used in writing to mean fem fans.

1944, John Bristol Speer, Fancyclopedia, page 31:

So, at last, backed by a formidable phalange of femfans, I dare speak up, brave lassie that I am.

1953 August, Thrilling Wonder Stories, volume 42, number 3, page 133:

When I went to my first science fiction convention in 1961, fandom was entirely white and 80 percent male. Women were marginalized as "femfans." Gay people were in the closet.

2010, Eleanor Arnason, Mammoths of the Great Plains, →ISBN, page 120:

(dated, sometimes derogatory, fandom slang) A female science fiction fan.


-mance

I very much look forward to this on my Dorianmance playthrough.

My Andersmance was taken at a more leisurely pace, so I really got into the depth and grief over his character and his romance.

My own Galemance run will go full swing once my Astarionmance one wraps up, so more to come soon ☺

2023 September 19, Irma 'Aimo (@aimostudio), Twitter:

(fandom slang, video games) A suffix attached to a noun or character's name to create a word for an in-game romance subplot or mechanic.


wincest

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-wincest.wav

Oh I see, so if they were over the age of 18 you wouldn't be having "wincest" with them as you put it, huh?

2009 October 22, Onideus Mad Hatter [username], “Re: Tomba's pedo website ...ripe for hacking”, in alt.support.boy-lovers (Usenet):

5. Powerpuff Girls wincest (It's basically an act of hot sex between family members, which makes it WINcest according to www.urbandictionary.com).

2009 October 27, Ashleigh Johnson, “Playboy steals the Internet's idea”, in The Daily Titan, volume 85, number 27, California State University, Fullerton, page 6:

(slang, with a positive connotation, originally anime, fandom slang) incest, usually of two siblings.


ornithoid

(science fiction, fantasy) Any bird-like creature.


stf

(dated, fandom slang) Abbreviation of scientifiction.


stfnal

en-adj

stfnal (comparative more stfnal, superlative most stfnal)

more stfnal (comparative)
most stfnal (superlative)

Of or pertaining to scientifiction or science fiction.


stfan

Los Angeles Futurians were entertained last nite by Walt Sullivan, visiting stfan

(fandom slang, dated) fan of science fiction


sakuga

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-sakuga.wav

sakuga-quality animation

The animation is superb, with high level fluid sakuga being prominent throughout.

2013, Luke Halliday, Cowboy Bebop Remastered Sessions Collection 1 Review, Capsule Computers:

Series that usually have to make do with unimpressive visuals have some of the most incredible highlights in the whole industry, and that stark contrast has been the wakeup call for many sakuga fans out there.

2015, Kevin Cirugeda, “The Joy of Sakuga”, in Anime News Network:

In Japanese animation (anime), a sequence of noticeably higher quality, used to highlight a particularly important scene.


Donkey Kong

Named after the Nintendo video game character Donkey Kong.

Let's get one thing straight, donkey kongs--I SERVE *NO ONE* BUT MYSELF, AT *ALL* TIMES, […]

1995 August 8, Zoogz Rift [username], “I'm not on this planet to serve YOU, ASSHOLES”, in rec.sport.pro-wrestling (Usenet):

HEY DONKEY KONGS!
IF YOU RACIST SAY THAT THE "TAMILS CURSE IS HAUNTING SL CRICKET" […]

1996 January 26, P. DE SILVA, “Re: IS TAMILS CURSE HAUNTING SL CRICKET TEAM?!”, in soc.culture.sri-lanka (Usenet):

Well, if the retarded islamic DONKEY KONGS without any question, believe that HEAVEN awaits these dog shit heads after committing atrocity against humanity - both islamic and non-islamic, karmic reality is a better alternative.

1998 November 3, PAKI BASH [username], “Re: Too hot for Hindu Hoodlums?”, in soc.culture.indian (Usenet):

(slang, derogatory) An uncivilized or ill-mannered person; a boor.


uberfic

Kate Bolin cited the mellow, friendly, castrated Spike; another example would be the alternate universes which are popping up with increasing frequency these days: you know, the kind of almost-but-not-quite-uberfic where everything's so different from the show that the author has to literally reconceptualize about half the characters to get them all in so everyone up to and including Jonathan will have somebody to exchange bodily fluids with.

1999 June 21, David Hines, “Re: Hmm...Willow and Angel?”, in alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer (Usenet):

On a related topic, it occurred to me t'other day to wonder whether there was in fact any Uberfic in existence before "The Xena Scrolls".

1999 June 24, damaged justice [username], “First known Uberfic sighting? (was Re: Season 2 Review: "The Xena Scrolls")”, in alt.tv.xena (Usenet):

There are a few genres where you can get away with it (Xena/Gabrielle uberfic, for example -- S.X. Meagher's I Found My Heart In San Francisco series was repubished^([sic]) in a slightly different form; […]

2003 October 19, Shalon Wood, “Re: {ASSD} Hijacked! I feel like one of the gang now.”, in alt.sex.stories.d (Usenet):

(fandom slang) A genre of alternate universe fan fiction which features archetypes of canon characters (including ancestors, descendants, and reincarnations) living in a different time, setting, or reality than that found in canon.


manfiction

He sang the praises of Elmore Leonard, Chabon, Malamud and a host of tough-guy “manfiction” novelists, to use his affectionately satirical term.

2007 March 18, Ben Neihart, “Prince of Darkness”, in The New York Times:

And current manfiction certainly gives women a better deal than they got in the pulps of yesteryear, when most were presented as barracuda debs in frilly negligees.

2008 October 12, Stephen King, “Who Says Real Men Don't Read?”, in Entertainment Weekly:

A professed affinity for Manfiction was a central tenet of this precarious Cool Girl identity; a Cool Girl was always ready to support the literary analysis presented by the dudes, even after consuming a fifth of bourbon at three in the morning.

2010, Amanda Hess (quoting Tiger Beatdown), "The Morning After: Manfiction and Mandles Edition", Washington City Paper, 1 June 2010

(informal) Literary fiction which appeals to, or is marketed toward, men, typically written by male authors and centering on male characters.


dick lit

dick (“penis”) + lit (“literature”), as a play on chick lit.

"I am really tired of reading about sad women and bad sex, especially in laddish terms - all that dick-lit stuff," she says dismissively.

2002 October 13, Jackie McGlone, “To hold but not to have”, in Scotland on Sunday:

She knew that he read books. Okay, so it was that trendy kind of real-life adventure-tragedy-on-Everest-in-Antarctica-in-Krakatoa-with-sharks-with-fire stuff. Sure, it was Dick Lit (a term Nina had coined in response to Chick Lit), but they were books, for god's sake, and not just the sports or business pages that many men considered "reading."

2004, Leslie Schur, The Dog Walker, Atria Books, →ISBN:

Peter Cameron's Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You has been touted as the current generation's Catcher in the Rye (both the Chbosky and Cameron titles provide teen dick lit alternatives to the many adolescent chick lit offerings).

2009, Malina Saval, The Secret Lives of Boys: Inside the Raw Emotional World of Male Teens, Basic Books, →ISBN:

(informal, vulgar) Literature which appeals to, or is marketed toward, male readers.


stfcon

Blend of stf (“scientifiction”) + convention.

blend

From the smogbound coast of Calif to the 'tater farms of Maine
We will see you-all in Portland when it's stfcon time again!

1950 January, Art Rapp, editor, Spacewarp, number 34, pages 17–21:

Scene: A street in Eugene, Oregon, site of the 17th World Stfcon

1951 November, Lee Hoffman, “The Tragedy of Fannius McCainius”, in Science-Fiction Five-Yearly, number 1, page 23:

Externally no-one would imagine there was a stfcon going on, no beanies, zap guns (or water pistols) in fact no fun at all.

1952 October, “Contemplations (part 2)”, in Fred J. Robinson, editor, Straight Up, volume 1, number 5:

(fandom slang, dated) convention of science fiction fans.


Sherlocked

en-adj

Sherlocked (comparative more Sherlocked, superlative most Sherlocked)

more Sherlocked (comparative)
most Sherlocked (superlative)

After last week's first episode we are all most definitely Sherlocked, and can't wait for tonight's take on the seminal sleuth's most infamous case, The Hound Of The Baskervilles.

Wit and technical wizardry aside, the new series should draw a large audience because Sherlocked fans everywhere want to know how their hero faked his own death.

2014 January 16, Addison Engelking, “Watching The Detective”, in Memphis Flyer:

To to all of the Sherlocked fans, the new series will be coming back in 2016, […]

2014, Hannah Choe, "Sherlock Is Late and We Are Sad", The San Mateo Hi (San Mateo High School), Volume 92, Number 6, 11 April 2014, page 8

(fandom slang) Addicted to the television series Sherlock.


Desdemona

Coined based on Ancient Greek δυσ- (dus-) + δαίμων (daímōn), hence "ill-fated, unfortunate".

As I looked out of the corner of my eye at this savagely picturesque fellow, wondering where was his Desdemona, a dainty and remarkably pretty piece of femininity entered the car, advanced to our table and sat herself beside Othello.

1919, Lee Meriwether, The War Diary of a Diplomat:

On the first of these days' amusements ( I know not what year ) Frank took offence at some attentions paid his Desdemona, and walked away next morning to London in wrath.

1848, James Boswell, The Life of Samuel Johnson, page 77:

Luria, the Moor of Florence, is a sentimentally magnanimous Othello without his passions and without his Desdemona.

2005, Boyd Litzinger, Donald Smalley, Robert Browning: The Critical Heritage, page 260:

Devastated by early losses, the narcissistic lover is unable to live with his Desdemona because he is unable to live without his idealization of her.

2012, Alvin O. Korte, Nosotros: A Study of Everyday Meanings in Hispano New Mexico:

Othello's wife in Shakespeare's play The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, noted for being a victim of jealousy.


assal horizontology

Coined on the TV show The Simpsons in 1995, as a quasi-medical term. See ass, -al, horizontal, -ology.

Dr. Nick Riviera: "I recommend a slow, steady gorging process, combined with assal horizontology."

1995 November 5, “King-Size Homer”, in The Simpsons, season 7, episode 7, Matt Groening et al. (actors), production code 3F05:

Just as Yohann is restored to his proper state of Assal Horizontology, an audible cricking noise - his knuckles and neck - rings around the hall.

17 December 2000, Talen, “Re: [GRIT] Sleepers Unbound (Was: The Last Day ~ The Dawn of Atlantis)”, in rec.arts.anime.misc (Usenet):

what does he have a degree in? / Assal horizontology.

24 February 2001, The IRS, “Re: Comic Book Guy Trivia”, in alt.tv.simpsons (Usenet):

Don't forget the Choco-tastic!!! / assal horizontology.

14 March 2002, Billy J. Dancefloor, “Re: tonight's episode (3-13-02)”, in alt.tv.simpsons (Usenet):

(humorous, rare) The act of sitting around doing nothing for long periods of time.


Kwyjibo

Taken from a nonsense word (supposedly meaning "A big, dumb, balding North American ape with no chin and a short temper") used in the 1990 episode "Bart the Genius" of the TV show The Simpsons.

An iron oxide-copper-gold deposit in Grenville, Quebec.


trollfic

en-noun

trollfic (countable and uncountable, plural trollfics)

Hmm. I always seem to be late to these threads... perhaps too much trollfic.. I mean, traffic?

1999 April 3, ACMCE [username], “Re: I Just Can't Stop Watching You...”, in rec.arts.tv.mst3k.misc (Usenet):

Or it may be trollfic, designed to gross out the newsgroup.

1999 July 5, lee burwasser, “Re: Muldertorture, Scullytorture, Krycektorture, Skinnertorture, and Character Attacks”, in alt.tv.x-files.creative (Usenet):

The fact that “My Immortal” is so poorly written and so (apparently, possibly?) meta about its story-within-a-story frame, and furthermore features so many (apparently, possibly?) self-reflexive, self-implicating jokes (at one point in the narrative, Ebony pulls out a “Hot Topic Loyalty card”) (ibid), suggests that, perhaps, “My Immortal” isn’t “real” fan fiction at all, but instead is “trollfic” or “badfic”—deliberately and excruciatingly bad fan fiction created for the explicit purpose of messing with a given fan community, even if a person happens to be a member of that community.

2017, Whitney Phillips, "'You're terrible, don't ever change!': How Identity, Rule Following, and Research Roadblocks Lend Meaning to Ambivalent Fan Engagement", in The Routledge Companion to Media Fandom (Melissa A. Click & Suzanne Scott), page 134

(uncountable, fandom slang) Such fan fiction collectively.


surrender monkey

surrender monkey (plural surrender monkeys)

cheese-eating surrender monkey
cheese-eating surrender monkey#English

Ellipsis of cheese-eating surrender monkey.


Stokerian

en-adj

Stokerian (comparative more Stokerian, superlative most Stokerian)

more Stokerian (comparative)
most Stokerian (superlative)

Of or relating to Bram Stoker (1847–1912), Irish novelist and short story writer, best known for his 1897 Gothic novel Dracula.


pressor beam

From press + -or and beam. Analogous to "presser beam", a beam that presses, as the inverse of tractor beam. Coined by American science fiction author E. E. Smith in 1931 in his novel Spacehounds of IPC, first serialized in Amazing Stories.

coin

Onward and upward flashed the gigantic duplex cone, its entire whirling mass laced and latticed together—into one mammoth unit by green tractor beams and red pressors.

1931 September, E. E. "Doc" Smith, “Spacehounds of IPC”, in Amazing Stories, volume 6, number 6, page 560:

By the way they're braced, there are tractor beams and pressor beams and—there are vacuum tubes that have grids but apparently work with cold cathodes.

1945 June, Murray Leinster, “The Ethical Equations”, in Astounding Science Fiction, volume 35, number 4, page 122:

A pressor beam lashed out, and invisible hammer blow of repulsion, five times the strength of the enemy tractor.

1956 September, Poul Anderson, “Margin of Profit”, in Astounding Science Fiction, volume 58, number 1, page 58:

(science fiction) A device that generates a beam that repels other objects; or the beam itself.


repulsor beam

From repulse + -or and beam, a beam that repulses.

Installed at the center of mass and set to repulsor-beam, this one would be able to move the entire planetoid from its orbit.

1958 November, Poul Anderson, “A Bicycle Built for Brew”, in Astounding Science Fiction, volume 62, number 3:

Hooked my model tractor beam into ship's power. Now it's a repulsor beam too. Want in?

1987, Dorothy Catherine Fontana, “The Naked Now”, in Star Trek: The Next Generation, season 1, episode 3, spoken by Wesley Crusher (Wil Wheaton):

I always wondered how cloud city in ESB stay afloat and does not fall? Is it some kind of repulsor beam, or what?

1995 July 15, Umut Nurkan, “How does cloud city float?”, in rec.arts.sf.starwars (Usenet), message-ID <1995Jul14.190422.22468@hobbes.kzoo.edu>:

No, that indicates a cloaked Romulan vessel with a repulsor beam.

2008 February 20, Iarnrod, “Re: WTC Towers: The case for controlled demolition”, in alt.conspiracy (Usenet):

(science fiction) A device that emits an energy beam capable of pushing away other objects.


presser beam

We'll have them in three days, and it ought to be fairly simple to dope out the opposite of a tractor, too—a pusher or presser beam.

1931 September, E. E. "Doc" Smith, “Spacehounds of IPC”, in Amazing Stories, volume 6, number 6, page 544:

(science fiction) Alternative form of pressor beam


stfdom

A monumental job by the VAMPIRE man, a 76-page ship of the line, featuring intelligent reviews of all phases of fandom and professional stfdom which features perhaps the best of the annual polls on just about everything.

1947 July, Startling Stories, volume 15, number 3, page 110:

Brotherly love is an old line, but stfdom is a living example that it will work.

1951 December, Wilkie Conner, “Konner's Korner”, in Quandry, number 16, archived from the original on 2011-06-07, pages 11–12:

(dated, fandom slang) The subculture of science fiction fans, the community of science fiction writers and fans.


stfandom

Blend of stf (“scientifiction”) + fandom

blend

And of course Sam Moskowitz, like Old Man Time Stream, rolls on forever with his monumental THE IMMORTAL STORM, a history of stfandom.

1947 May, Sam Merwin, Jr., “Review of Science Fiction Fan Publications”, in Startling Stories, volume 15, number 2, page 110:

But don't let it throw you. We have another hunch that stfandom will still be around after the rocket has returned to Earth—either on some high plateau or the slimy swampbottoms—complete with fads and feuds and foolish if quasi-endearing fripperies.

1950 September, “Wither Stf?”, in Startling Stories, volume 22, number 1, pages 143–144:

(dated, fandom slang) The subculture of science fiction fans


stfantasy

Either abbreviation of scientifantasy, or blend of stf (“scientifiction”) + fantasy.

The average stefnist eats up good stfantasy, has an exaggerated idea of its literary merit, and will leap to defend it against detractors.

1944, John Bristol Speer, Fancyclopedia, page 69:

First, many thanks for giving us a de Camp tale. He is, to me, the most literate writer ever produced by stfantasy.

1947 April, C. Oliver, Thrilling Wonder Stories, page 98:

The usual melange of serious articles on stfantasy and its personalities, copiously interspersed with advertising. If you collect, sell, trade, or read fantasy or stf you cannot do without this one.

1950 September, Francis Towner Laney, “Fanzine Scope”, in Spacewarp, number 42, page 63:

After all, it was these same "parasites" who did much to keep science-fiction going in the dark days when stfantasy was the skeleton in the closet of literature — they supported it, they introduced it to their friends, they risked ridicule because they were intelligent enough to believe in what they liked.

1951 July, Chad Oliver, “QX Fella! We Got the Jets for the Job! [letter]”, in Planet Stories, volume 5, number 1, page 65:

(dated, fandom slang) The overall field of literature containing the genres of science fiction and fantasy fiction; imaginative fiction; speculative fiction.


stfilm

Either abbreviation of scientifilm, or blend of stf (“scientifiction”) + film.

A Stfilm Committee of five were appointed to meet on Fridays, and plan the whole film project.

1940 May, Thrilling Wonder Stories, volume 16, number 2, page 128:

The report was that Earl had been attending the screening of chapter six of a new stfilm, The Underseas Kingdom with Crash Corrigan or something like that.

1951 November, Lee Hoffman, “The Lives and Deaths of Earl Tuckleton”, in Science-Fiction Five-Yearly, number 1, page 5:

(dated, fandom slang) A film in the science fiction genre.


uchronia

From French uchronie, formed (after utopia) from Ancient Greek οὐ (ou, “not”) + Ancient Greek χρόνος (khrónos, “time”) + -ia.

af

Mercier's resort to uchronia, on the other hand, initiates a new paradigm for utopian literature not only by setting action in a specific future chronologically connected to our past and present but even more crucially by characterizing that future as one belonging to progress and thus linked causally if not immediately to the reader's time.

1987, Paul K. Alkon, Origins of Futuristic Fiction, page 127:

For Portelli, uchronia comprises 'that amazing scene in which the author imagines what would have happened if a certain historical event had not taken place'.

2007, Andy Wood, The 1549 Rebellions and the Making of Early Modern England, page 211:

This uchronia actually exerted some influence in its time, converting many readers to socialism because they wanted to live in the world of Bellamy's vision.

2011, Lealand B Yeager, Is the Market a Test of Truth and Beauty?, page 389:

An idealized or fictional conception of a particular period of time, especially in the past.


energy weapon

The window display was made up of an assortment of rather curiously shaped guns, rifles as well as small arms; and a glowing sign in the window stated: THE FINEST ENERGY WEAPONS IN THE KNOWN UNIVERSE.

1941 July, Alfred Elton van Vogt, “The Seesaw”, in Astounding Science Fiction, volume 27, number 5, page 60:

A weapon that fires a beam or pulse of energy instead of a projectile.


FAFIA

Acronym of Forced Away From It All. After GAFIA (Getting Away From It All). Used in early science fiction fandom.

He contributed wit and whimsy to virtually all the major English fanzines for the next few years, but gradually lapsed into fafia under the increasing responsibilities of marriage and jobs.

1964 November, “[Preface to] The Most Unforgettable Lupin Man I Ever Met”, in Terry Carr, editor, Entropy, number 1, archived from the original on 2019-12-23, page 21:

WWII was the worst in that a large number of fans were in the Armed forces or other Fafia inducing activities.

1975, Elliot Weinstein, The Fillostrated Fan Dictionary, page 140:

Just a quick note that AOL has once again stopped sending me newsgroup postings. Not sure why, and not sure when they will resume again. But FAFIA for the moment.

2002 April 30, Harry Andruschak <pearlyandharry@aol.comity>, “Re: Out of touch”, in alt.support.menopause (Usenet), message-ID <20020429233727.12043.00004542@mb-ck.aol.com>:

(dated, fandom slang) The state of exiting or becoming inactive in fandom due to other obligations.


andy

From android + -y, coined by Philip K. Dick in his 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?.

Well, no intelligence test would trap such an andy. But then, intelligence tests hadn't trapped an andy in years, not since the primordial, crude varieties of the '70s.

1968, Philip K. Dick, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?:

1989, Ron Goulart (ghostwriting as William Shatner), TekWar
These damn andies can pass for humans, as can most of the more expensive andies these days.

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
Philip K. Dick


fafiate

From FAFIA (“forced away from it all”) + -ate (noun-forming suffix).

After she got that job she became a fafiate.

(dated, fandom slang, science fiction) A science fiction fan who has become inactive in the fandom community due to other obligations.


blue pill

Antonym of red pill; rejecting the red pill philosophy.


supersight

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-supersight.wav

The superpower of having remarkably acute vision.


Arya

From Sanskrit आर्य (ā́rya, “reputable or reverend”) and its feminine form आर्या (ā́ryā).

der

Arya Nielsen, a senior clinical faculty member at our Institute, has also demonstrated this in her excellent work on surface stimulation […]

1999, Mark Seem, Acupuncture Physical Medicine, →ISBN:


Brienne

Napoleon was nearly captured by the Cossacks after the Battle of Brienne, but was saved by one of his generals.

Napoleon arrived in Brienne on 15 May 1779.

2011, Frank McLynn, Napoleon: A Biography, →ISBN:

The town of Brienne-le-Château in France.

(obsolete) A surname from French. Ellipsis of de Brienne. Obsolete spelling of Bryan (“de Bryan”).

2009, Brienne J. Meyer, Adirondack Mycorrhizal and Saprobic Macromycetes

"You will call me Brienne. Not wench."

2000, George R. R. Martin, Song of Ice and Fire, Bk. 3, Bantam Books, →ISBN, page 16:

(rare) A female given name, in occasional modern use.


fans are slans

From slan and the novel Slan (1940) by A. E. Van Vogt. By analogy to the superior but persecuted mutants of Van Vogt's novel.

Under the title "Stfans -- Race of the Future", Joquel dissects the "fans are slans" theme which back in 1941 was being considered with a surprising amount of seriousness, and comes up with the obvious conclusion of phooey.

1950 March, F. Towner Laney, “Fanzine Scope”, in Spacewarp, number 36, pages 10–17:

FANS ARE SLANS Literally understood, "fans are superman mutants" -- or, at least, "fans are smarter than most people" -- but actual semantic content is according to the mood and attitude of the user.

1959, Richard "Dick" Harris Eney, Fancyclopedia II:

"Fans are slans" is a way of saying that we're smarter than other people. (Which is true, actually, but rather impolite to bring up in mixed company.)

2000 April 27, Pete McCutchen, “Re: Mr. Ordover, I disagree”, in rec.arts.sf.written (Usenet), message-ID <4uvggsgbbt3gsqrobf2o1prj0offlhpuch@4ax.com>:

Fanish culture is very tribal in nature and overly concerned with superiority as fans are slans.

2003 November 8, Danny Low, “Re: Mundanes' secret weapon?”, in rec.arts.sf.fandom (Usenet), message-ID <okbrqvghahmsaoc59jmjotlk60807s92i6@4ax.com>:

(dated, fandom slang) Science fiction fans are more intelligent and more creative than other people.


stfzine

Blend of stf (“scientifiction”) + zine (“magazine”).

blend

Will trade stfzines, or what have you ... might even pay cash.

1950 April, Arthur H. Rapp, “Wanted”, in Spacewarp, number 37, page 29:

One of the few barbarisms I committed on the body of a stfzine was cutting out this chart to put in my high-school freshman science workbook.

1955, John Bristol Speer, “1934: The Making of a Fan”, in Fancestral Voices, page 110:

The average stfzine sold maybe 75,000 copies on a good day in the thirties when the population of the country was about 130 million. Today the population is rapidly approaching 239 million and the average stfzine still sells maybe 75,000 copies on a good day. If that many.

1968 March, Roy Tackett, “Section Eight [letter column]”, in Psychotic, number 24, page 28:

(dated, fandom slang) A science fiction magazine.


stfnist

Either abbreviation of scientifictionist, or stf (“scientifiction”) + -ist.

It follows that no stfnist should be considered for one of the top places until he has been active for at least two years; many may run thru the cycle of fanac and make a big noise for a moment, then fizzle out.

(dated, fandom slang) A fan or creator of science fiction; one involved in some aspect of science fiction.


stfield

Blend of stf (“scientifiction”) + field.

One probably should not say there was a trufan, even in posse, until the stfield had been defined by Amazing Stories.

1955, John Bristol Speer, “The Phanerofanish Eon”, in Fancestral Voices, page 79:

(dated, fandom slang) The province or domain of science fiction; the area in which science fiction is active.


stfanzine

Blend of stf (“scientifiction”) + fanzine (“fan magazine”).

By the way, I hate horror yarns. Tough, but there is nothing to be done about it. You might start your own zine, if you want horror stories. Or send your manuscripts to SHIVERS or one of the other fanzines specializing in that branch of fantasy. This is a stfanzine.

1950 April, Arthur H. Rapp, “Timber!”, in Spacewarp, number 37, page 2:

(dated, fandom slang) An amateur magazine produced by and for fans of science fiction.


stfsy

(dated, fandom slang) The overall genre containing science fiction and fantasy; speculative fiction.


SMOF

Abbreviation of Secret Master Of Fandom. Coined by American science fiction author Jack Chalker.

abbreviation of

He is also, in case he is willing... no, not in case he is willing; anyway, whether he likes it or not... an Honorary Member of SMOF.

1963, Hal Clement, Proceedings of Discon, page 162:

Secret Masters of Fandom (SMOFs), people who consider themselves to be the real ‘rulers’ of fandom, making decisions by running fan politics. Actually, these poor fellows are suffering from delusions of grandeur. (Also, verb form: to smof.)

1978, Arthur Wilson "Bob" Tucker, The Neo-Fan's Guide to Science Fiction Fandom, page 10:

I know a lot of briefcase-carrying SMOF types that live to run cons.

1993 November 6, Jim Rittenhouse, “Re: Will some REAL fans please move to Chicago?”, in alt.fandom.cons (Usenet), message-ID <2bh88t$1ip@genesis.MCS.COM>:

Mary Manchester deserves special mention at this point. She appeared in few publications, yet she had such an influence on Star Trek fanzines that many considered her a SMOF, or Secret Master of Fandom.

2003, J. M. Verba, Boldly Writing, page 27:

Cabal Sometimes assumed to be a secretive organization responsible for the development of Wikipedia [...] The term is comparable to the use of the term SMOF in science fiction fandom.

2014, Dariusz Jemielniak, “Appendix B: Glossary of Wikipedia Slang”, in Common Knowledge?, →ISBN, page 205:

(fandom slang) One influential in science fiction fandom; one who organises a convention, publishes a fanzine or performs a similar activity.


smof

en-verb

smof (third-person singular simple present smofs, present participle smoffing, simple past and past participle smoffed)

smofs (present singular third-person)
smoffing (participle present)
smoffed (participle past)
smoffed (past)

Smoffing is a Way of Life.

the fen of science fiction fandom for whom fiawol descended on Boston this weekend for their annual worldcon to smof and to buy old fanzines.

1971 September 6, New York Times, page 17:

Then there's the semantic argument of smofdom. Ailsa, by discussing the nature of fandom, is smoffing. By smoffing, she risks becoming a smof. In fact, the more she discusses the nature of fandom, and who is or isn't a smof, the more likely she is to become one.

1998 October 21, Doug Wickstrom, “Re: Do Fans Beget Fans?”, in rec.arts.sf.fandom (Usenet), message-ID <363a2926.8124211@netnews.worldnet.att.net>:

(fandom slang) To discuss fandom; to organise or direct fandom; to act in the manner of a SMOF.


faan fiction

en-noun

faan fiction (countable and uncountable, plural faan fictions)


neofan

COMING NEXT ISH: A department devoted to the BNF of tomorrow. 'Twill be the neofan of today who is the Tucker or Laney of tomorrow. So QUANDRY, the BNZ of tomorrow, will bring you biografies^([sic]) of lesser known fen.

1950 October, Lee Hoffman, “Chaos”, in Quandry, archived from the original on 2011-06-07, page 5:

I heard a couple of neofans boasting that they were going to have breakfast with him!

1988, Sharyn McCrumb, Bimbos of the Death Sun:

Huzzah! Hopefully we'll get some fans, neo-fans and even fanlings to join us.

2005 June, Ruth Davidson, “President's Message”, in National Fantasy Fan, volume 5, number 2, page 4:

For a while there, if three fans were swapping apazines, it’s a good bet that I was one of them. Not that I set a record for number of apas. Bruce Pelz, Robert Lichtman and a few other fans had made “omniapan-ism” fashionable among impressionable neofen like me. Bruce was not only in a lot of groups, but it seemed like he was Official Editor of half of them.

2006 May 13, Arnie Katz, “The Thin Veneer”, in confuSon, volume 1, number 4:

(dated, fandom slang, science fiction) A newcomer to science fiction; a fan who is extremely new and inexperienced with the genre; a beginner.


Bim, BEM, Bum

Clipping of bimbo + BEM (“Bug-Eyed Monster”) + bum (“incompetent man”). From a typical composition for the cover art of science fiction pulp magazines such as Thrilling Wonder Stories, notably by artists such as Earle K. Bergey and Rudolph Belarski, featuring a woman (the "Bim") being attacked or threatened by a monster (the "BEM"), while a man (the "Bum") protects her and/or attacks the monster.

(fandom slang, art) Retro art composition; composition stereotypical of the cover art of mid-20th-century science fiction pulp magazines.

Earle K. Bergey
Thrilling Wonder Stories


Belter

You noticed a habit of mine once. I never make gestures. All Belters have that trait. It's because on a small mining ship you could hit something waving your arms around.

1966 February, Larry Niven, “The Warriors”, in If, volume 16, number 2 (#99 overall), page 152:

Earth and Mars have been stepping on the necks of the Belters out here for over 100 years and I didn't want to be the boot.

2015 December 22, Remembering the Cant (The Expanse), season 1, episode 3, spoken by Jim Holden (Steven Strait):

(science fiction) An inhabitant of an asteroid belt, especially that between Mars and Jupiter.


SF/F/H

Abbreviation of Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror.

abbreviation of

The parent genre encompassing the genres of science fiction, fantasy fiction and horror fiction; speculative fiction; imaginative fiction; non-mimetic fiction.


ageless sleep

She is, indeed, most wondrous fair: Gold of sunshine in her hair. Lips that shame the red, red rose. In ageless sleep, she finds repose. The years roll by, but a hundred years, to a steadfast heart, are but a day.

1959, Erdman Penner, Sleeping Beauty (film)

(mythology, fiction, fantasy) A magical state of suspended animation, where-in the recipient is placed in a state of ageless, deathless, everlasting sleep. Well-known examples are Endymion (the lover of the Greek moon goddess, Selene), and the princess Sleeping Beauty.


eternal sleep

She is, indeed, most wondrous fair: Gold of sunshine in her hair. Lips that shame the red red rose. In ageless sleep, she finds repose. The years roll by, but a hundred years, to a steadfast heart, are but a day.

1959, Erdmann Penner, Sleeping Beauty (film)

(mythology, fiction, fantasy) A magical state of suspended animation, a state of ageless, deathless, everlasting sleep. Well-known examples are Endymion (the lover of the Greek moon goddess, Selene), and the princess Sleeping Beauty.


daywalker

(fantasy) One who can go out in the sunlight, distinguished from vampires etc. who cannot.


Tellurian

From Latin tellūs (“earth, ground; the globe, planet Earth; country, land”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *telh₂- (“ground, bottom”) + -ian (suffix meaning ‘from, related to, or like’ (when forming an adjective), or ‘one from, belonging to, relating to, or like’ (when forming a noun)).

suffix

If any distant world (which may be the case) are so far ahead of us Tellurians in optical resources as to see distinctly through their telescopes all that we do on earth, what is the grandest sight to which we ever treat them?

1847, Thomas de Quincey, “Joan of Arc”, in Miscellaneous Essays:

There is a mystery in Tellus which has not been solved. I cannot reconcile the disappearance of all its water and its race of men as well, with the legend preserved in our family that, not so very long ago, Tellurians visited us, staying beneath this very roof as guests. Why did the Earth-race die out so quickly?

1930 February, Edwards Gawain [pseudonym; George Edward Pendray], “A Rescue From Jupiter”, in Science Wonder Stories, volume 1, number 9, page 787:

But it's well that that bunch of tellurians are dead! Our diamond was the cause of that much good for the earth!" Nega slowed her orbital speed, oscillated a bit, and twinkled: "Are all tellurians like those we've met in the last year?"

1935 May, Joseph William Skidmore, “A Saga of Posi and Nega”, in T[homas] O’Conor Sloane, editor, Amazing Stories, volume 10, New York, N.Y.: Teck Publishing Corporation, →OCLC, page 107:

Mr. Bridges is more interested in correct usage of planetary names, rather than in mere derivations (a more useful and less frivolous involvement than mine, you see) and, for instance, advocates what he maintains to be correctly derived words such as Venustian and Hesperian for hypothetical inhabitants of Venus in place of the incorrect Venusian or Cytherean; and Tellus and Tellurian in place of Terra and Terran. He lists astronomers and classical scholars who support his views.

1965 December, Isaac Asimov, “Water, Water, Everywhere—”, in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, volume 29, number 6 (number 175 overall), page 87:


Terrestrian

This rocket squad was composed almost solely of Terrestrians, for they were used to the greater gravity of Earth, and could stand greater acceleration than could Venerians.

1930 Fall, John Wood Campbell, “Black Star Passes”, in Amazing Stories Quarterly, volume 3, number 4, page 516:

How would it look for the First Administrator to go limping around the galaxies explaining that he was behind schedule because his ship got wrecked on Sol III and the Terrestrians were incapable of matching his drives?

1950 November, Raymond Fisher Jones, “Tools of the Trade”, in Astounding Science Fiction, volume 46, number 3, page 55:


Terrestrial

From Latin terrestris, from terra (“land, earth, ground”).

It will be manifest that natural scenery must present many beautiful varieties of effect altogether unfamiliar to us terrestrials, who know of no colours in scenery except those inherent in the objects themselves which form the landscape.

1873, Richard Anthony Proctor, The Expanse of Heaven, page 235:

The other was not a Terrestrial, but a visiting Martian.

1925, Hugo Gernsback, Ralph 124C 41+, page 41:

There'd been Earthling girls; and not a few Khazaki women had been intrigued by the big Terrestrial.

1950 Fall, Poul Anderson, “Star Ship”, in Planet Stories, volume 4, number 8, page 74:


Earthie

"Earthgirl?" the guard repeated. "She didn't look like an Earthie."

1947 October, Frederik Pohl, “Donovan Had a Dream”, in Thrilling Wonder Stories, volume 30, number 1, page 27:

The blue men of Mica II discriminated against Earthies, considered them inferior since the Micans had conquered the Earthies a hundred years ago.

1963 May, John Jakes, “Underfollow”, in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, volume 24, number 5 (#144 overall), page 66:

(science fiction, informal, often derogatory) An inhabitant of the Earth.


Earthgirl

You have given me an idea, Earthgirl, and it is one that I am afraid you will live to regret.

1939 February, Harold Kerton Wells, “Moon of Mad Atavism”, in Thrilling Wonder Stories, volume 13, number 1, page 35:

(usually science fiction) A young female inhabitant of Earth.


Earthperson

en-noun

Earthperson (plural Earthpersons or Earthpeople)

Earthpersons (plural)
Earthpeople (plural)

The Venusians, unlike other planetary races, were almost like Earthpeople. There was only one notable difference—they had feathers on their heads instead of hair.

1953 May, Eando Binder, “Interplanetary Tenements”, in Captain Marvel Adventures, volume 24, number 144, page (inside front cover):

And beyond that, the most important equipment of all: the manufacturing units that processed the Earthpeople's food.

1956, Philip Kindred Dick, The World Jones Made, page 198:

My last act as an earthperson, she says, was t' snatch off my landlawd's glasses and punch and punch 'im in the nose.

1974, Donald Newlove, The Drunks, page 140:

"That was an ingenious idea, Earthperson," it said slowly. "There is now a beneficent atmosphere surrounding my pressure envelope, which will enable me to repair the torn fabric and survive until Illensan assistance arrives. Thank you."

1983, James White, Sector General, page 24:

It was Tarna's first demonstration of Earthpersons—or rather Earth robots—in action, an the villagers were hugely impressed.

1986, Arthur C. Clarke, The Songs of Distant Earth, page 81:

(usually science fiction) An inhabitant of the planet Earth.


oppa

Borrowed from Korean 오빠 (oppa, “elder brother or close elder male friend (of a female)”).

bor

(manhwa, women's speech) An affectionate term of address for an older brother or somewhat older man.


biobot

A robot that is partly or wholly biological in nature, as for example an assemblage of plant cells or animal cells that can perform tasks such as moving and reacting.


otome game

The otome games are marketed heavily toward female gamers, something generally uncommon with video game marketing. As of this writing, several game developers have invested in localizing otome games originally released only in Japan into English.

2017, Amy M. Green, Matthew Wilhelm Kapell, Storytelling in Video Games: The Art of the Digital Narrative:

A story-based video game in which the player attempts to establish a romantic relationship between the female player character and one of several male characters.

乙女遊戲 /乙女游戏

romance simulation game (usually the protagonist is a woman)


holodisk

(science fiction) A holographic disk used as a storage medium.


manic pixie dream girl

en-noun

manic pixie dream girl (plural manic pixie dream girls)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-manic pixie dream girl.wav

Coined by the American film and music critic Nathan Rabin (born 1976) in a 2007 review of Elizabethtown (2005) to describe the character Claire Colburn played by Kirsten Dunst: see the quotation.

coinage

Then again, [Susan] Sarandon's character is the very embodiment of gritty neo-realism compared to Kirsten Dunst's stewardess/love interest. Dunst embodies a character type I like to call The Manic Pixie Dream Girl (see Natalie Portman in Garden State for another prime example). The Manic Pixie Dream Girl exists solely in the fevered imaginations of sensitive writer-directors to teach broodingly soulful young men to embrace life and its infinite mysteries and adventures.

2007 January 25, Nathan Rabin, “My Year Of Flops, Case File 1: Elizabethtown: The Bataan Death March of Whimsy”, in The A.V. Club Blog, archived from the original on 2007-02-05:

[page 218] For me, the Manic Pixie Dream Girl was the story that fit. Of course, I didn't think of it in those terms; all I saw was that in the books and series I loved – mainly science fiction, comics and offbeat literature, not the mainstream films that would later make the MPDG trope famous – [...] [page 219] Most of the classic Manic Pixie Dream Girls claim to be ironic re-imaginings of a character trope that they fail to actually interrogate in any way.

2014, Laurie Penny, “Love and Lies”, in Unspeakable Things: Sex, Lies and Revolution, New York, N.Y., London: Bloomsbury, →ISBN, pages 218–219:

Looking for a new apartment, he cute-meets Sofia (Dolores Fonzi), a young woman with a pink bicycle helmet, yellow tights, a vaguely exotic background and all the other signs of manic-pixie-dream-girl status.

2015 May 14, A[nthony] O[liver] Scott, “Review: In ‘The Film Critic,’ a snob is tripped up by his heartstrings”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2015-05-17:

A guy who understands women based on movies or television will never have a chance at understanding a real woman, because we aren't like that. We aren't the "career-focused ice queen" or the "sweet helpless damsel in distress" or the "manic pixie dream girl" [...]. But at times, we might be some of them. Or all of them. And then we'll change again, into something much more complex. You can't pin us down.

2016 April, Bethenny Frankel, Eve Adamson, “Woman, Know Thyself”, in I Suck at Relationships So You Don’t Have To: 10 Rules for Not Screwing Up Your Happily Ever After, 1st Touchstone paperback edition, New York, N.Y.: Touchstone, Simon & Schuster, →ISBN, page 34:

Your love for her is getting embarrassing. [...] She's gorgeous, she has buckets of charisma she couldn't hide if she tried, and she makes all the boys fall in love with her. That sounds like Manic Pixie Dreamgirl territory, my friend—which, news flash again, is a cliché.

2017 October, James Patterson, Emily Raymond, chapter 30, in Expelled, New York, N.Y.: Jimmy Patterson Books/Little, Brown and Company, →ISBN; republished as The Injustice, New York, N.Y.: Jimmy Patterson Books/Little, Brown and Company, 2018, →ISBN:

But even as Gina's behavior dips past manic pixie dream girl to merely manic, the director never deviates from the detached tone of his prologue.

2017 September 17, Teo Bugbee, “Review: ‘Thirst Street’ hollows out Hollywood obsession”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2020-03-12:

A precursor to the “manic pixie dreamgirl” trope of today, the femme-enfant’s youth was to be mooned over, her naïveté aspired to, her pure countenance captured in poetry and paint.

2019 June, Pam Grossman, “The Dark Arts: Magic Makers and Craft Women”, in Waking the Witch: Reflections on Women, Magic, and Power, New York, N.Y.: Gallery Books, →ISBN, page 179:

(film, sometimes derogatory) A stock female character, typically characterized as a bubbly, quirky free spirit, whose main purpose within a narrative is to teach a young male protagonist to embrace the mysteries and adventures of life.

Audrey Hepburn
Elizabethtown (film)
Kirsten Dunst
Roman Holiday


Buffista

> Well, to *you* I yield precedence, but the rest of these whippersnappers
> ought to bow to my half-century. And I've been a Buffista from Day One.

2002 February 19, Bill Reid (quoting Charles Stanley), “Re: Am I the only old man here?”, in alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer (Usenet):

Of course if they entice the 'Buffy crowd', there'll be a lot of Buffistas reading Jinx High for the first time and complaining about it ripping off the Buffy episode "The Witch" (my first usenet post about Buffy was to abml about a certain rather obvious plot resemplance^([sic]) there).

2005 August 31, William George Ferguson, “Re: New release of Tregarde series?”, in alt.books.m-lackey (Usenet):

We didn't discuss it further, and continued sitting on our asses watching the TV. But a couple weeks later, late at night, another Buffista pondered the idea online.

2007, Allyson Beatrice, Will the Vampire People Please Leave the Lobby?: True Adventures in Cult Fandom, Sourcebooks, Inc., →ISBN, page 189:

(slang) A fan of the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.


Buffyite

46 and proud to be a Buffyite. One of the best shows on the tube.

1998 May 25, Georg McLaughlin, “Re: Newbie (ages ?)”, in alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer (Usenet):

Buffyites [felt] the show had slipped this year, falling into a very administration-like (and un-Buffy-like) us vs. them moral schema.

2005, Rhonda Wilcox (quoting Eric Alterman), Why Buffy Matters: The Art of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I. B. Tauris & Co Ltd (2006), unnumbered page

Although Internet communities are virtual, it is the hypothesis of this paper that the virtcom can become a real community, by means of which Buffyites and Angelites can regularly interact.

2009, Mary Kirby-Diaz, “Buffy, Angel, and the Creation of Virtual Communities”, in Mary Kirby-Diaz, editor, Buffy and Angel Conquer the Internet: Essays on Online Fandom, McFarland & Company, →ISBN, page 18:


Buffyholic

Anyway, I was thinking that some of us Buffyholics could meet there and perhaps organize a Denver "goober" for Buffy's season premiere.

1998 August 13, barklage [username], “Starcon 98 (Denver)”, in alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer (Usenet):

Cordesman was introduced to Buffy by Buffyholics in his family, watched an episode or two, perceived analogies between the show and America's approach to threats of biological warfare, and developed Buffy into compounds that expressed his views on security.

2003, Michael Adams, Slayer Slang: A Buffy the Vampire Slayer Lexicon, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 100:

Before “Prophecy Girl,” I thought Buffy was a pretty cool show with some great moments, way better than anything else on the box. In its wake, I was an obsessive Buffy'''holic.

2009, Justine Larbalestier, “A Buffy Confession”, in Glenn Yeffeth, editor, Seven Seasons of Buffy: Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors Discuss Their Favorite Television Show, BenBella Books, →ISBN, page 78:


vampireyness

If I remember correctly, the episode $teve's talking about also featured Nick getting caught on camera by a TV news crew, and he was unable to hypnotise her to make her forget because she had physical evidence of his vampireyness.

2001 July 28, Adam James Fitzpatrick, “Re: A few questions about Angel 2.21 - SPOILERS”, in aus.tv.buffy (Usenet):

For reasons that defy explanation, they're PUNS. Monstrous puns. Puns so eye-rollingly BAD, they're an abomination to the vampire's refined senses. This affront to their immortal good taste leaves them writhing in agony—exposing all manner of vampireyness.

2013, Rita Harris, Heather Harwood, Your Guide to Spotting and Outing Bloodsuckers at Work, AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 4:

Age Suitability: Teens and above due to vampireyness and possible bad language.

2013, Nine Worlds Geekfest 2013 Programme and Schedule, page 53:

(informal) The state or quality of being vampirey.


Buffaholic

For all you UK Buffaholics out there, there's an SMG interview in this week's (month's?) TV Hits magazine.

1999 January 14, Jonathan Nickson, “SMG interview”, in alt.fan.sarah-m-gellar (Usenet):

I'm am^([sic]) always online late Tuesday....gotta see what the Buffaholics thought about the new ep. I love Feb sweeps <G>.

2001 February 10, Karen Marie, “Re: Smackdown & Thunder”, in alt.pro-wrestling.wwf (Usenet):

I am a 36-yr-old mother of two pre-shcoolers and I am a proud Buffaholic (not too mention Angelholic).

2001 December 18, Sharon V, “True Age Demographic”, in alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer (Usenet):


Buffian

Sorry to have missed meeting the Canberra Buffians.

2000 January 17, Rachel, “Re: Inaugural ACT Buffy Meet”, in aus.tv.buffy (Usenet):

In all this time it still hasn't occurred to you that Buffians couldn't possibly give less of a shit about ratings?

2001 May 31, Forge [username], “Re: Wonky wins in Finale Ratings! Outraged DA fans demand recount!”, in alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer (Usenet):

Yay - 'nother Buffian :D

2002 June 2, Trin, “Re: ROLL CALL!”, in uk.religion.pagan (Usenet):


skiffy

A phonetic spelling of sci-fi to convey its deliberate mispronunciation (with "sc" being read as /sk/ and "i" being read as short vowel /i/ instead of diphthong /aɪ/).

The science fiction reader sneers at fake SF, artificially produced film tie-in novels and stories, most SF films, most TV SF. This he calls sci-fi (or "skiffy")—junk no right-thinking omnivore or chronic should read, watch, or support.

1984, David Hartwell, “The Golden Age of Science Fiction is Twelve”, in Age of Wonders, →ISBN, page 13:

Many of the best new writers seem openly ashamed of their backward Skiffy nationality.

1989 July, Bruce Sterling, SF Eye, number 5, page 77:

Around 1978 the critic Susan Wood and others began pronouncing the term "skiffy". In 1980s-1990s usage "skiffy", which sounds friendlier than "sci fi", has perhaps for that reason come to be less condemnatory. Skiffy is colourful, sometimes entertaining, junk sf: Star Wars is skiffy.

1993, Peter Nicholls, The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction, →ISBN, page 1079:

(fandom slang, usually derogatory or humorous) Low-quality science fiction.


Spidey

Seven months later he reappeared in his own comic book, The Amazing Spider-Man. In the 16 years since, Spidey (as his fans call him) has become the country's most popular superhero, appearing in 300 daily newspapers.

1978, Princeton Alumni Weekly, volume 79, page 8:

In the closet Marvin found his sea shell collection, baseball cards, a stack of Spidey comic books, a jar of dead flies he had forgotten about, a paper bag filled with pine cones, and five cans of mud from Lake Washington.

1981 Oct, Ebony Jr., volume 9, number 4, page 25:

Only Spider-Man's spidey powers can get us out of this!

1983 Jan, Boys' Life, volume 73, number 1, page 21:

[H]e's also written a Spidey short story (“Arms and the Man” in 1997's Untold Tales of Spider-Man) and a Spidey novel (Down These Mean Streets in 2005).

2013, Gerry Conway, Leah Wilson, Webslinger: Unauthorized Essays On Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, page 32:

(slang) The fictional superhero Spider-Man.


Romione

Ask her about her favorite ships. Does she like Dramione, or Romione? Ask her why, and if she's written fanfics about them.

2012, Krixia Subingsubing, "Date A Girl Who Writes", The Sword (St. Paul College of Makati), Volume 18, Number 1, June 2012-January 2013, page 14

The fans who believed in the canonical pairing were outraged that Rowling would say such things about their beloved Romione.

2014 February 10, Rebecca Godwin, “Romione vs. Harmony: Why do we even care?”, in The Michigan Daily, page 8A:

2014, J. Cibelli, "J. K. Rowling reflects on Romione romance", The Quinnipiac Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 18, 12 February 2014, page 11 (used in title only)

(fandom slang) The ship of characters Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger of the Harry Potter series.


Harmony

Blend of Harry + Hermione, based on the common noun harmony.

Oh that is bloody priceless, unfortunately I've seen some of the Harmony shippers' rants and that little piece of creative fiction could really be considered understating some of the reactions that were areound^([sic]) on some forums after the HBP release.

2006 June 16, Deevo [username], “Re: OT - but not by far: Shippers and fan-ficcers and psychos, oh, brother...”, in alt.tv.buffy-v-slayer (Usenet):

Did you see where that retarded fucker Emerson Spaz ^([sic]) "that the Harmony shippers were (and still are) delusional. It's Romione all the way!" […]

2014 February 8, Darryl Homo Forests, “Re: Rowling Admits H/Hr was Better”, in alt.fan.harry-potter (Usenet):

Others, who shipped, which is the internet's way of saying supported, Harmony (Harry and Hermione), claimed superiority over the Romione shippers, claiming they always knew whom the true pairing should have been.

(fandom slang) The ship of characters Harry Potter and Hermione Granger of the Harry Potter series.


dahu

Perhaps still sore at being called crétins des Alpes by lowlanders, the Savoyards, in the early days of mass tourism, would sometimes take gullible visitors on dahu hunts. These entailed all-night vigils out in the open, where the would-be trophy hunter had to crouch and hide so as not to be seen by the sharp-eyed dahu.

2017, Stephen O'Shea, The Alps: A Human History from Hannibal to Heidi and Beyond, W. W. Norton & Company, →ISBN:

(mythology) A legendary goat-like animal reputed to live in the mountains of France, Switzerland, and Italy.


pseudodragon

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From pseudo- + dragon, introduced in the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game.

(fantasy) A small dragon-like creature, not a true dragon.


Batmaniac

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The DC comic book recently ran a two-day telephone poll asking Batmaniacs whether they wanted Robin, who was seriously injured by an explosion at the end of one issue, to live or die.

1988, Raymond Moley, Malcolm Muir, Joseph Becker Phillips, Newsweek, volume 112, numbers 19-26, page xxxi:

(informal) A fan of the Batman fictional franchise.


Fomorian

Probably Old Irish fo- (“under”) + mor, mur (“ocean”).

(Irish mythology, mythology) A member of the semi-divine race that were said to have inhabited Ireland in ancient times.


superagility

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superagile

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Winnie the Pooh

en-proper noun

Winnie the Pooh (plural Winnie the Poohs)

From a bear cub named Winnie, short for Winnipeg, and a swan named Pooh.

No amount of Winnie the Poohs on the wall could distract you from seeing the huge bloodstain on the carpet.

2004, John A. Miller, Jr, The Victorian Mansion Murders, Pima Books, →ISBN, page 40:

Even in Europe, where killer bees are not much a menace, we have developed a kind of Winnie-the-Pooh attitude to the bees: they are dangerous, they are unpredictable, and they are usually acting to thwart us.

2007, Bee Wilson, The Hive: The Story of the Honeybee and Us, Macmillan, page 221:

The Stop commander was one Colonel Zimin, a loud, round, cheerful Winnie the Pooh type, who was always in excellent spirits, always joking and liked to pat the soldiers affectionately on the cheek when talking to them.

2009, Arkady Babchenko, “The Diesel Stop”, in Jeff Parker, Mikhail Iossel, editors, Rasskazy: New Fiction from a New Russia, Tin House Books, page 160:

Awake each day with excitement; there are pirates to fight, a yellow brick road to find, and new parts of Winnie the Pooh's forest to explore.

2011, Mark Grant, Out of the Box and onto Wall Street, John Wiley & Sons, page 375:

Winnie the Poohs can be a little smug and take great pride in the fact that while the rest of us are spinning like crazy tops, they're walking calmly through life.

2012, Kay Warren, Choose Joy: Because Happiness Isn't Enough, Baker Books, page 44:

They had all, to a man and woman, been rumbled, like so many Winnie The Poohs with their hands in Rabbit's honey pot.

2013, Douglas Lindsay, The End Of Days, Blasted Heath Ltd, page 11:

Like the time Mum made the Winnie the Pooh chocolate lollies for the cake sale, before cakes got banned. And I COULDN’T WAIT for them to set and go hard, so I could have one. So I kept taking them out of the fridge and drinking a bit out of the mould. And then when Mum went to get them in the morning, none of the Winnie the Poohs had any legs, and Eeyore didn’t have a head.

2014, Pamela Butchart, The Spy Who Loved School Dinners, Nosy Crow, →ISBN:

Censored photos included one of Winnie the Pooh in a car (Internet users in China have long likened Mr. Xi to images of the pudgy bear) and another of the Obama family purportedly watching the parade on television.

2015 September 3, Patrick Boehler, “Trending on Chinese Social Media: Xi’s Salute, an Autocrat’s Son and Winnie the Pooh”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2024-01-31, World:

When I returned, I said, “My daughter’s doing the nursery in Winnie the Pooh.” “Pooh?” she said. “Yes,” I said. “Winnie the.” “Pooh,” she repeated. I sensed that she wasn’t happy with me for some reason or another. “Pooh,” I reiterated. She said (very patronizingly, I might add), “Sir, we have at least four different Winnie the Poohs in our collection. You have your classic Pooh, your Disney Pooh …”

2016, Gene Perret, New Tricks for Old Dogs: 28 Laughable Lessons for People Too Stiff to Change … or Bend … or Move, Familius LLC, →ISBN:

A talking bear from an English children's book series carrying the same name, noted for his sweet, simple nature, and his love of honey.

Joanica-Puff (Portugal, Terramar's book translation)

Winny de Puh m (1980's book translation)

Cockney rhyming slang
Cockney rhyming slang

Winnie-the-Pooh

A. A. Milne used hyphens, while the Disney version does not