Speedog's definitions

demolecularize

Verb: to reduce, especially by artificial means, any material object down to to its constituent components at the molecular level.

"With no response after repeated hailing attempts on multiple frequencies, the President issued the order to demolecularize the intruding aircraft."

by speedog May 2, 2010

turtle

Verb (nautical terminology): to capsize, as in a boat, ship, or other sea-going vessel.

After a merciless bombardment by American dive bombers, the Japanese superbattleship "Yamato" turned turtle and sank, taking nearly her entire crew to the bottom.

by speedog July 27, 2010

Honorary American citizenship

Title: the supreme honor bestowable by the United States of America, awarded (as of the current date) to seven individuals (in ascending chronological order): Sir Winston Churchill (1963); Rauol Wallenberg (1981); William Penn & Hannah Callowhill Penn (1984); Mother Teresa (1996); General La Marquis du Lafayette (2002); General Count Kasimierz Pulaski (2009).

In April 1963, President Kennedy awarded Sir Winston Churchill with the highest honor of the United States, Honorary American citizenship.

by speedog June 16, 2010

crash-launch

Noun (spaceflight terminology): to instantly activate the engine(s) of a terrestrial-situated spacecraft at 100% power, with no consideration of standard sequential gradation of thrust, in an attempt to immediately escape from an emergency situation.

"When Commander Leonov observed the escape tower separating from the Soyuz vehicle, he instantly engaged the crash-launch procedure, and saved his entire crew."

by speedog May 2, 2010

Operation Sea Lion

Noun: code name for the planned invasion of Great Britain by Nazi Germany in 1940 (German trans: "Unternehmen Seelöwe"); plan defeated by British forces on land, sea and air.

After Goering's Luftwaffe failed to achieve air superiority over Britain, Hitler was forced to cancel Operation Sea Lion.

by speedog June 25, 2010

Admiral of the Ocean Sea

Noun (naval terminology): the universally supreme naval rank, awarded historically only to one seaman (Christopher Columbus) jointly by HRM Ferdinand and HRM Isabella of Spain, in recognition of his achievement in successfully navigating the Atlantic Ocean westward and (presumed at the time) the discovery of a shorter, less hazardous, and less expensive trading route to India from Europe.

"Upon his return from his first voyage to America, Christopher Columbus received the rank and title of "Admiral of the Ocean Sea" from Ferdinand and Isabella,
which rank he holds in perpetuity."

by speedog May 2, 2010

hands up

The universally accepted gesture of, or order thereof, surrender between any combatants in which the surrendering party(s) hands are elevated 90 degrees vertically without weapons, in order to visually display the non-possession of any weapon, and the voluntary cessation of all hostile action on behalf of the surrendering party(s).

"When the Allied forces exited their trenches and advanced forward, the Axis soldiers came out with their hands up.)

by speedog May 2, 2010