Speedog's definitions

Climb Mount Nitaka

Phrase (WW II Japanese military): code phrase authorizing the activation of "Operation Z", the Japanese attack on U.S. naval forces based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Once Emperor Hirohito had given his assent to Operation Z, the code phrase "Climb Mount Nitaka" was transmitted to Admiral Yamamoto.

by speedog July 7, 2010

Roman handshake

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

self destruct

Verb: to voluntarily destroy oneself, and/or any property under ones control, in order to deny any advantage to ones enemy(ies).

"As the Soviet Army surrounded the Stalingrad bunker, Hitler gave the order to Field Marshall von Paulus to self destruct, which he disobeyed."

by speedog May 3, 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

shoot the pier

(Surfing term): to maneuver one's surfboard in such a manner as to attempt to pass with safety between the supporting pilings of a pier; either "head on", meaning to pass directly under the entire pier from its oceanside terminus to the beach; or "side on", meaning to pass from one side of the pier to the other at an angle oblique to the shoreline prior to reaching the beach.

"Gary said he was going to try and shoot the pier on his longboard, but we talked him out of it."

by Speedog February 1, 2010

nova

Noun (astrophysics terminology): the catastrophic self-destruction of a "main sequence" stellar body via a runaway nuclear fusion reaction caused by the accretion of hydrogen atoms over time, surpassing the star's ability to burn off the accreted hydrogen prior to the initiation of the reaction.

The Crab Nebula was originally thought to be the product of a nova explosion, but is now known to be the result of the supernova of star Taurus-A.

by speedog July 10, 2010

To Protect and To Serve

Phrase: the motto of the Los Angeles Police Department.

'Displayed prominently on all LAPD vehicles is the phrase: To Protect and To Serve".

by speedog May 3, 2010