Speedog's definitions

harpago

Noun (ancient Roman naval terminology): a catapult-launched grappling hook, invented in the 1st century BCE by Marcus Agrippa, and successfully employed by himself (as commander of Roman naval forces) during the Battle of Actium, against the forces of Egyptian Queen Cleopatra VII, and her ally, the Roman triumvir Marcus Antonius (a.k.a. Mark Anthony).

"When Antony's larger Egyptian ships had penetrated the Roman line, Agrippa's smaller galleys successfully reeled them in for close marine combat by using the harpago."

by speedog June 10, 2010

Mocha Dick

Noun: an albino male sperm whale known to inhabit the Pacific Ocean near Mocha Island in the early 19th century, credited with sinking several whaling ships which were in pursuit of members of his pod. Considered the inspiration for Herman Melville's novel "Moby-Dick, or The Whale", published in 1851.

As the harpoon boats approached, Mocha Dick played dead, evidently to lure them in closer, until he could counter-attack.

by speedog June 13, 2010

striper

Noun: nickname for a striped bass (Morone saxatilis), a game fish which frequents the Eastern shore regions of the United States and Canada.

Chuck almost lost the striper on his surf line, but nearby fishermen helped him land it.

by speedog June 13, 2010

El Kabong

Name: alter-ego of American cartoon character 'Quick Draw McGraw', a masked avenger styled in the manner of 'Zorro' (q.v.), wielding a guitar with which he would subdue evildoers with the exclamation "Ka-Bong!". Created in 1959 by Hanna-Barbera Productions.

The people living near the hacienda were repeatedly harassed by a gang of bandits, until the arrival of the mysterious El Kabong.

by speedog June 14, 2010

V-2

Noun (abbreviation): a sub-orbital, intermediate range ballistic missile carrying an explosive warhead, officially known (in German) as "Vergeltungswaffe 2" (Eng. trans: "Vengeance weapon 2"), deployed by Nazi Germany against Britain and other Allied European nations beginning in September of 1944, and continuing until the cessation of its production in March, 1945.

"The V-2 was Hitler's last hope to stave off defeat, but his scientists were unable to develop a nuclear warhead which could be delivered to London, or multiple rocket staqes which could have placed Washington, D.C. within reach of the weapon."

by speedog June 14, 2010

DWB

Acronym (American slang): Driving While Blond.

"Jess claimed she was driving under the speed limit the whole time, but got pulled over on an obvious DWB."

by speedog June 14, 2010

Essex

Noun: a 238-ton whaling ship, based out of Nantucket Island (USA), famously sunk on November 20, 1820 in an encounter with "Mocha Dick", an albino sperm whale defending his pod against human predation. Incident widely acknowledged as the direct inspiration for Herman Melville's 1851 novel "Moby-Dick, or The Whale".

"Following the second hull strike by Mocha Dick, the Essex crew had only minutes to provision the surviving boats and cast-off before the ship sank."

by speedog June 16, 2010