List of terms (TOS)

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The Colonials and Cylons employ a distinct nomenclature of military jargon, colloquialisms, sayings, and technical terms to create a culture distinctly "alien" to the audience. This article serves to organize and summarize this terminology, leading to different articles if the term needs to be further expanded upon.

Acronyms[edit]

CORA: Computer, Oral Response Activated; an artificial intelligence capable of operating a Viper ^{(TOS: "The Long Patrol")}

Honorifics[edit]

Count, a title of nobility (e.g. Count Iblis)
Lord, a title of nobility (e.g. Lord Baltar)
Sire, a title of nobility, typically ascribed to a civilian of the male gender (e.g. Sire Uri, Sire Solon)
Siress, a title of nobility, typically ascribed to a civilian of the female gender (e.g. Siress Tinia, Siress Blassie)

Colloquialisms[edit]

astrum: buttocks ^{(TOS: "The Living Legend, Part I")}
Barge Lice: a "term of endearment" for prisoners on the Prison Barge
felgercarb: expletive, similar to "crap"
frack: expletive, similar to "shit"
galmonging: an expletive, possibly similar to "asshole" or "God damned"
Hades hole: hell hole, used to describe the Red planet ^{(TOS: "War of the Gods, Part I")}
mong-raking: an expletive; after thwarting their attack on Galactica, Cain comments that "those mong-raking Cylons are in a state of shock right now" due to the appearance of Pegasus ^{(TOS: "The Living Legend, Part II")}
plant vapors: a psychoactive drug familiar to the Colonials; Boomer comments that the Blonde Taurus woman on Carillon was probably "smoking plant vapors" ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}
pogees: expletive, similar to "shit" ^{(TOS: "The Living Legend, Part II")}
socialator: a sex worker, escort, prostitute ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}

General Jargon[edit]

agro: products related to agriculture ^{(TOS: "The Magnificent Warriors")}
ambrosa: an expensive alcoholic intoxicant
auto-control: auto-pilot; Brie is instructed by Starbuck to activate this after having problems on her first launch from Galactica ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I")}
bio-pulse line: an unspecified body function, possibly an emotional state; Starbuck attempts to use this as an excuse to not join Apollo's mission to clear the Cylon minefield ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}
boraton: a liquid that extinguishes fires ^{(TOS: "Fire in Space")}
breather: term for a breathing mask, or a life support system supplying air ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I")}
bureautician: bureaucrat, politician ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}
carbide: a likely term for carbon dioxide or carbon monoxide ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I")}
centura: possibly an expression related to percentages. "If we just let him lie in that life pod he doesn't have a chance in a centura" ^{(TOS: "Fire in Space")}.
Chief Opposer: a prosecuting attorney in a trial ^{(TOS: "Murder on the Rising Star")}.
chronometer: a time keeping device, essentially a watch ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}
computape: a video recording; Sire Solon watched computapes of the triad match between Ortega and Starbuck ^{(TOS: "Murder on the Rising Star")}
crawlon: a spider ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I")}
comline: a communication channel between ships
cubit: a form of coined currency
daggit: a domesticated canine, e.g. dog
death stone: tombstone ^{(TOS: "The Long Patrol")}
drone: a term for a robot, such as Muffit II ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}
ducket: a type of prepaid voucher used on the shuttle Canaris, typically collected at the end of the shuttle trip ^{(TOS: "The Man with Nine Lives")}
flight slumber: unintentionally sleeping while flying a craft, like a Viper; Apollo attempts to write off John and his second visit to the Ship of Lights as being a dream from a flight slumber ^{(TOS: "Experiment in Terra")}
fumarello: a small cigar that Starbuck typically smokes
furlon: a furlough, or short leave of absence for Warriors in the Colonial Military service ^{(TOS: "The Man with Nine Lives")}
geogram: a diagram; Ravashol shows Apollo a geogram of the pulsar with instructions on how to destroy it ^{(TOS: "The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part II")}
glaiders: coined currency on Equellus ^{(TOS: "The Lost Warrior")}
grog: an intoxicating beverage, likely similar to beer
Homemade Buzzer: a version of "moonshine" on Equellus ^{(TOS: "The Lost Warrior")}
hovermobile: apparently a form of ground transportation that can be hot-wired ^{(TOS: "Fire in Space")}
ion field: a stellar phenomenon, which can cause scanner echoes ^{(TOS: "The Living Legend, Part I")}
ion vapors: likely term referring to the trail of a turbo engine ^{(TOS: "The Long Patrol")}
isoldin: a type of intravenous fluid given to patients ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I")}
leisuron: a vacation or leave of absence, similar to a furlon (TOS: deleted scene, "Saga of a Star World")
- Note: An alternate spelling, "liesuron," appears in the comic book adaptation.
lextrium III: a type of fuel used by the Eastern Alliance destroyer ^{(TOS: "Experiment in Terra")}
life pod: a life support bed used in the life center aboard Galactica ^{(TOS: "Fire in Space")}
lupus: a wolf-like animal
mega star: a star; in a deleted scene, Omega reports of the "mega star" they detect as they leave the magnetic void ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part II")}
mega sun: a star; the Nomen come from the "land of the mega sun" ^{(TOS: "The Man with Nine Lives")}
med tech: a medical technician, such as a nurse or orderly
meteor fire: meteor storm; Starbuck likens the readouts on his instrument panel "lighting up like a meteor fire" upon coming across the magnetic void ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I")}
modocker: an unknown term, likely of endearment; Cain asks Apollo how Adama is by asking, "Well, how is he? How is that old modocker?" ^{(TOS: "The Living Legend, Part I")}
mushies: a food
nightflyer: an owl-like creature on Equellus that hoots ^{(TOS: "The Lost Warrior")}
officiator: someone who oversees a triad game ^{(TOS: "Murder on the Rising Star")}
Orion hasher: something that is black and blue; Cassiopeia comments that Starbuck looks like one after his matches with Ortega ^{(TOS: "Murder on the Rising Star")}
oviner: a rancher ^{(TOS: "The Lost Warrior")}
plant vapors: some sort of drug, likely a reference to marijuana ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}
pluton: a radioactive material whose radiation breaks down food ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}
pods: a Cylon outpost ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I")}
primaries: basic food groups ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}
Protector: a defense attorney in a Tribunal ^{(TOS: "Murder on the Rising Star")}
protein: another type of food
protest: the equivalent of saying "objection" in a Colonial Tribunal ^{(TOS: "Murder on the Rising Star")}
pulse scrambled code: secure method of communication used by the Colonial Fleet ^{(TOS: "The Lost Warrior")}
pyramid: a card game, similar to poker
quadrant: region of space, see also Sector. Usually named after a Greek letter, or (less frequently) a star system or planet.
scorpius: likely term for a scorpion; Maga comments that Borellian Nomen have the patience of such a creature, he also comments that the name "Borellian Nomen" strike fear at the hearts of those who hear it like the scorpius ^{(TOS: "The Man with Nine Lives")}
sector: region of space or planet, see also Quadrant. Usually named after a Greek letter (space sectors), or a geographic formation on the surface of a planet (geographic sector, e.g. Sector Hekla on the planet Arcta")
sleep period: Colonial term for bedtime
seal: marriage
sickbed: term for bed rest when one is recovering from an illness ^{(TOS: "The Young Lords")}
skybus: a type of starship ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}
solium: a type of fuel
solonite: an explosive used in demolitions ^{(TOS: "The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part II")}
spacedrome: a space port ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}
star speed: a speed which is used by Eastern Alliance ^{(TOS: "Greetings from Earth")}
telecom: an internal communications phone aboard Galactica ^{(TOS: "Fire in Space")}
tinhead: epithet used to describe Cylons ^{(TOS: "The Living Legend, Part I")}
tribunal: a Colonial court hearing
turbo: Warrior slang for their Viper's high-velocity booster engines, e.g. "hit your turbos"
turboflush: a toilet (TOS: "Baltar's Escape")
turboram thruster: a type of engine or thruster; in a deleted scene where Serina completes her first landing, Serina turns off this part of the Colonial shuttle as a part of her landing sequence ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I")}
turboshower: a shower ^{(TOS: "Murder on the Rising Star")}
travelator: a travel agent ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}
triad: a contact sport, similar to football or basketball
tylium: a fuel source, highly combustible ^{(TOS: "Fire in Space")}
wardaggit: "war dog" ^{(TOS: "The Living Legend, Part I")}

Technology[edit]

gyro capacitors: component of a Viper's stabilizer system ^{(TOS: "The Living Legend, Part I")}^[1]
laser controllers: component of a Viper's weapon system ^{(TOS: "The Living Legend, Part I")}^[1]
otron extensions: component of a Viper's weapon system ^{(TOS: "The Living Legend, Part I")}^[1]
point diverters: component of a Viper's weapon system ^{(TOS: "The Living Legend, Part I")}^[1]
proton activators: component of a Viper's weapon system ^{(TOS: "The Living Legend, Part I")}^[1]
proton energizers: a type of weapon on an Eastern Alliance destroyer ^{(TOS: "Experiment in Terra")}
scanner: term for a computer monitor and television set
tape coder: a voice recording device; Thane successfully passes off a hand mine as a device ^{(TOS: "The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part II")}
transmit tek: component of a Viper's stabilizer system ^{(TOS: "The Living Legend, Part I")}^[1]
zonar modules: component of a Viper's stabilizer system ^{(TOS: "The Living Legend, Part I")}^[1]

Military Jargon[edit]

"flash inspection": an inspection of military assets that is performed without prior notice by a superior officer ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}
"four-point peel off": a maneuver performed with a group of four Vipers ^{(TOS: "War of the Gods, Part I")}
"free flight jump": an infantry parachute landing, having jumped out of a shuttle ^{(TOS: "The Living Legend, Part II")}
"life station relief": sick call ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part II")}
"maximum G-climb": a maneuver done near a celestial body, which may cause the pilot to blackout; Starbuck orders C.O.R.A. to perform this maneuver, which causes the pursuing Raider to crash into the loading docks on Proteus ^{(TOS: "The Lost Warrior")}
"stand alert": Colonial term for "attention" ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I")}
"stripped and moduled": a consequence of severe infractions in military law, likely similar to being stripped of one's rank and thrown in hack; Greenbean expresses a fear of this happening as Giles asks where he got the alcohol from ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I")}
Warrior: an all-purpose term for Colonial soldier and Viper pilot

Sayings[edit]

"By your command": a typical Cylons response to an order (TOS: "Saga of a Star World", et al.)

"By your leave": a Colonial response to an order (TOS: "Saga of a Star World", et al.)

"clear as the Nubian sun": a saying, similar to "as clear as day"; Cain uses this saying when referencing to the non-existent Raiders he allegedly pursued when he made his attack on the Cylon fuel tankers ^{(TOS: "The Living Legend, Part I")}.

"daggit drivel": a term used to describe someone's lies, similar to "garbage" or "bullshit"; Lucifer uses this term when asking if Baltar believes Specter's false reports ^{(TOS: "The Young Lords")}.

"For the glory of Caprica": saying used by the Colonials, particularly those from Caprica ^{(TOS: "The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part II")}.

"Go rust yourself": Colonial equivalent to "go fuck yourself", typically used towards Cylons; Cadet Cree says this to Vulpa while the Cylons interrogate him ^{(TOS: "The Gun on Ice Planet Zero, Part I")}.

"laser in their side": analogue to "thorn in their side", Starbuck uses this term to describe how the actions of Megan's surviving children have kept their father alive at Cylon hands ^{(TOS: "The Young Lords")}.

"like a daggit on a sunspot": fidgety; Apollo points out that Starbuck acts this way during his pre-flight meeting on destroying the mines in the Straits of Madagon ^{(TOS: "Saga of a Star World")}.

Units of Measure[edit]

Colonial Unit	Earth Unit
Time measurements
yahren	year^[2]
quatron	month
secton	week
time cycle	day
centar	hour
millicenton	10 minutes
centon	minute^[3]
micron	second
microcenton	second^[4]
Distance measurements
parsec	90 Million Miles
hectar	9 Million Miles
sectar	9 Million Miles (?)^[5]
metric	kilometer
maxim	10 meters
metron	meter^[6]
Scientific measurements
ergon	unknown
megon	megaton
radion	rad
volton	voltage
wavelon	wavelength

Table notes[edit]

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 ^1.3 ^1.4 ^1.5 ^1.6 As noted from Sheba's scanner readout in "The Living Legend, Part I". Refer to this image.
↑ Yahren may be only about 2/3 of a year; see note.
↑ In episodes such as "Saga of a Star World" and "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I", centon is used as the Colonial equivalent of a week before being retconned in later episodes.
↑ Microcenton is likely another term for "micron"; Starbuck uses this term when he says "switching off of you for a microcenton to scan ahead" ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part II")}
↑ A sectar is an unknown unit of measure, measuring either distance or time.
↑ "Metron" is used in a deleted scene as Serina approaches the starboard landing bay ^{(TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part II")}; likely similar to a meter, which is known as a "metric" in other episodes.