Iron Coffin was a rueful term coined by German submarine ("U-boot" or "U-boat") crews to describe their vessels during World War II. This term reflected the submariners' awareness that submarines are usually sunk while they are submerged, so that the crew of a sunken submarine is interred forever in the hull at the bottom of the sea.
The term is descriptive and makes the desired point, although during the war submarines were made of steel, not iron.
The truth of the term is evident in the fact that between 28,000 and 39,000 U-boat men died in the War, representing a casualty rate between 75% and 90%. The lesser number is most often quoted. The wide difference in estimates may result from the fact that many U-boat men died in air attacks while ashore, or were killed after being re-assigned to Army units during the last months of the conflict.
In the early 1970s the term gained some familiarity among English speakers after the publication of a memoir of the same name written by Herbert Werner, a former U-boat commander.
The term is descriptive and makes the desired point, although during the war submarines were made of steel, not iron.
The truth of the term is evident in the fact that between 28,000 and 39,000 U-boat men died in the War, representing a casualty rate between 75% and 90%. The lesser number is most often quoted. The wide difference in estimates may result from the fact that many U-boat men died in air attacks while ashore, or were killed after being re-assigned to Army units during the last months of the conflict.
In the early 1970s the term gained some familiarity among English speakers after the publication of a memoir of the same name written by Herbert Werner, a former U-boat commander.
by Walking Point April 30, 2009
The curb lane of a multi-lane road. So named because drivers crossing the road, are not apt to see vehicles driving down this lane. These drivers are often suckered into making the crossing by innocent drivers in other lanes, who politely wave them through. Everyone is oblivious to the cars sailing down the far right hand lane, who have the right of way.
Of course the insurance company denied his claim. He was making a left turn across three lanes of traffic and could not see the cars whizzing down the curb or coffin lane. The moral is never trust other drivers, when they wave you through. Notice how they were smiling when they waved you through?
The chances are that a turn-pussy knows this from experience, not from driver's ed.
The chances are that a turn-pussy knows this from experience, not from driver's ed.
by miker2001 December 27, 2009
Joe: "Shit that chick looks orange as hell"
Gavin: "Yeah, she must have spent to much time in the guido coffin"
Gavin: "Yeah, she must have spent to much time in the guido coffin"
by Leydeman February 16, 2008
by TokeJoker November 13, 2003
by coff-in dodd-ge-rr October 14, 2003
by AlexWhiteRules August 02, 2010
An eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) vehicle usually in a configuration similar to a drone.
A typical flying coffin is poorly designed with propellers strategically placed to slice limbs or decapitate. In a rush to part gullible venture capital investors with huge sums of money, hardware and software will often be insufficiently engineered.
A typical flying coffin is poorly designed with propellers strategically placed to slice limbs or decapitate. In a rush to part gullible venture capital investors with huge sums of money, hardware and software will often be insufficiently engineered.
Hey look at that flying coffin crashing into the ground, why the hell did the CAA allow that piece of crap to fly in UK airspace?
by UAV Hive March 08, 2021