speedog's definitions

Roman salute

Noun: a manner of military salutation allegedly peculiar to ancient Rome, in which the right arm and hand are extended and elevated in the direction of any superior officer, or in the absence of any such superior, in the geographical direction of Rome itself, accompanied by the Latin phrase "Ave Caesar" ("Hail Caesar").

"Immediately upon taking command of the Antonia fortress, the tribune Messala executed the Roman salute to the former fortress commandant."

by speedog May 2, 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

bed wrecker

A female whose physical activities during sexual relations are particularly energetic, or who evidences a propensity for female ejaculation.

"You should have told me Jill was a bed wrecker. Now I have to do an extra load of laundry".

by Speedog September 15, 2009

dago dazzlers

Noun (plural): a multiplicity of official (or official-looking) documents, permits, passes, and/or letters of authorization, typically bearing apparently authentic governmental stamps, seals, and signatures, to be presented mostly by scientific expeditions from developed nations whenever challenged by local, often sub-literate, authorities attempting to impede their progress to extort monies or other remunerations in return for “safe passage” through a specific area under their control; the intent being to thwart such local tactics by implication of the threat of condign action from a superior governmental power should the papers presented be ignored.

"Suddenly our progress was halted by a group of armed men, but after a few tense minutes they waved us along, after Dr. Keller flashed his packet of dago dazzlers in their faces."

by Speedog December 2, 2009

DWB

Acronym (American slang): Driving While Blond.

"Jess claimed she was driving under the speed limit the whole time, but got pulled over on an obvious DWB."

by speedog June 14, 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

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