Speedog's definitions

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

contact

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

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

POD

Acronym: Passed Out Drunk

After the party nobody could locate Chuck, but it turned out he was POD in the back of Wendy's van.

by speedog July 7, 2010

against her will is against the law

Expression (chiefly American): an admonition to males engaging in sexual behavior with females that at any time the female expresses the wish to cease such activity, the male must immediately comply or risk potential legal consequences.

Any guy out on the town needs to remember the mantra "against her will is against the law."

by speedog June 25, 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