Speedog's definitions
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
Get the Essex mug.Noun (plural): a multiplicity of official (or official-looking) documents, permits, passes, and/or letters of authorization, typically bearing apparently authentic governmental stamps, seals, and signatures, to be presented mostly by scientific expeditions from developed nations whenever challenged by local, often sub-literate, authorities attempting to impede their progress to extort monies or other remunerations in return for “safe passage” through a specific area under their control; the intent being to thwart such local tactics by implication of the threat of condign action from a superior governmental power should the papers presented be ignored.
"Suddenly our progress was halted by a group of armed men, but after a few tense minutes they waved us along, after Dr. Keller flashed his packet of dago dazzlers in their faces."
by Speedog December 2, 2009
Get the dago dazzlers mug.Adjective: description of any expression, statement or definition which, although originally intended in earnest, results adversely in humorous disdain.
"Wendy's attempt to explain how her underwear ended up in the frat house rec room was unintentionally hilarious."
by speedog April 28, 2010
Get the unintentionally hilarious mug.Aviation term: a verbal queue expressed by the pilot of a propeller-driven aircraft lacking a starter to a mechanic positioned forward of the engine, indicating that the pilot has connected the main electrical circuit of the aircraft via a switch in the cockpit, and that the mechanic should manually rotate the propeller in order to start the engine.
"When Lt. Rickenbacker engaged the main switch of his S.P.A.D. fighter, he shouted 'Contact!' to his mechanic to crank the propeller."
by speedog May 23, 2010
Get the contact mug.Noun: a manner of shaking hands peculiar to ancient Rome, in which the parties grasp each others right wrist.
"The Roman handshake was the accepted practice of greeting among gentlemen in the Western world from the beginning of the 1st century BC until the end of the 5th century AD."
by speedog April 30, 2010
Get the Roman handshake mug.Name: an individual equal in authority, status and capability to ones' self, yet in the employ of a directly rival organization.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Agent Smith from the CIA finally met his opposite number in the KGB.
by speedog June 20, 2010
Get the opposite number mug.After the enemy squad failed to halt their advance on our position, Lt. Johnson shouted "Let 'em have it", and we had to open fire.
by speedog June 23, 2010
Get the Let 'em have it mug.