Tom from the Shore's definitions

Electric Train

1) A toy or model train that is powered by electricity. The most common examples are Lionel type trains and the H.O. trains sold in hobby shops

2) Any real train that is powered by electricity. Power may come from overhead wires, known as a 'catenary system', or through a power "third rail" that runs alongside the regular tracks.

1) Joe went to the hobby shop and bought a set of electric train for the kids.

Lionel makes great electric trains.

2) Electric trains run on the Montclair Line on New Jersey Transit.

The GG1 Locomotive is an example of a powerful electric train

by Tom from the Shore December 12, 2007

Australian Mensa

Group therapy for people who are mentally ill or otherwise mentally incapacitated.

Toots had a nervous breakdown, so every Friday she goes to Australian Mensa.

After the psychiatric ward, the looneys go to Australian Mensa for outpatient care.

by Tom from the Shore November 9, 2007

hummel

A German self-propelled gun used during World War II. It was an 88mm gun on a Panzer 4 chassis. Literally, Hummel is German for "bumblebee."

A Hummel battery was providing antiaircraft protection for that German convoy.

Two Hummels were destroyed by bazookas.

by Tom from the Shore April 2, 2008

hinky chinky

A derogatory phrase to denote anything Chinese. This is a rhyming slur.

Hinky Chinky Chinaman!

That's a real hinky chinky outfit!

by Tom from the Shore December 15, 2007

Australian rocket science

Manual labor, especially any kind of digging. So called because Australians are also known as "diggers" and the implication that they are not very smart.

If you do not finish high school, you will end up doing Australian rocket science for a living.

by Tom from the Shore November 10, 2007

H.O.

1) A specific type of model electric train. Known both as H.O. scale and H.O. gauge. The letters come from "Half-O", since H.O. was originally half the size of an O gauge train. The scale of H.O. is 1/67, and its gauge is 16.5mm. H.O. trains are the most popular size in the world.

2) the scale of H.O. trains, which is 1/87. It can eb applied to trains, minitaure figures, or model kits.

1) Jimmy has a set of H.O. trains running in his basement.

The Hobby Shop carries H.O. trains

2) Are those model plains 1/72 or H.O. scale?

This diorama is done to a precise H.O. scale.

by Tom from the Shore December 12, 2007

Australian Intellectual

A drunk. So called because Australians have a well-deserved reputation for excessive drinking. It is one of the few things at which they excel, probably because most of them are of Irish or Scottish ancestry.

Benny used to be okay, but since he's been hitting the sauce he has become a real Australian intellectual.

by Tom from the Shore April 2, 2008