speedog's definitions

harpago

Noun (ancient Roman naval terminology): a catapult-launched grappling hook, invented in the 1st century BCE by Marcus Agrippa, and successfully employed by himself (as commander of Roman naval forces) during the Battle of Actium, against the forces of Egyptian Queen Cleopatra VII, and her ally, the Roman triumvir Marcus Antonius (a.k.a. Mark Anthony).

"When Antony's larger Egyptian ships had penetrated the Roman line, Agrippa's smaller galleys successfully reeled them in for close marine combat by using the harpago."

by speedog June 10, 2010

air-heel

Verb (high fashion slang): To walk barefoot on the ball of one's feet (or foot) with the heel elevated, as though one is wearing heeled shoes, most usually in the event that one or both shoes are lost during a fashion show; the object being to maintain balance and poise as best possible.

'When Karolina Kurkova lost her shoe during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, she had to air-heel it down the runway and back"

by Speedog December 1, 2009

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

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

unintentionally hilarious

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

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