List of terms (RDM): Difference between revisions

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*'''[[OOD]]''': Officer of the Deck {{TRS|Scattered}}
*'''[[OOD]]''': Officer of the Deck {{TRS|Scattered}}
*'''[[Playing the Field|PTF]]''': Playing the Field, an advice column on [[Sexuality in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|dating in the Twelve Colonies]] (''[[The Caprican]]'': "[[Playing the Field: A Guide to Love in the Colonies]]", et al).
*'''[[Playing the Field|PTF]]''': Playing the Field, an advice column on [[Sexuality in the Twelve Colonies (RDM)|dating in the Twelve Colonies]] (''[[The Caprican]]'': "[[Playing the Field: A Guide to Love in the Colonies]]", et al).
*'''[[Frak|RFN]]''': Right [[Frak]]king Now ([[TRS]]: "[[Scattered]]", "[[Valley of Darkness]]")
*'''[[Frak|RFN]]''': Right [[Frak]]king Now {{TRS|Scattered|Valley of Darkness|}}
*'''[[SAR]]''': Search and Rescue {{TRS|Fragged}}
*'''[[SAR]]''': Search and Rescue {{TRS|Fragged}}
*'''[[Soldiers of the One|STO]]''': Soldiers of the One, a monotheistic terrorist organization in existence for more than a decade prior to 58 BCH ([[CAP]]: [[Caprica pilot|Pilot]], et al).
*'''[[Soldiers of the One|STO]]''': Soldiers of the One, a monotheistic terrorist organization in existence for more than a decade prior to 58 BCH ([[CAP]]: [[Caprica pilot|Pilot]], et al).
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*'''[[Actual]]''': the commanding officer. Used in wireless transmissions.
*'''[[Actual]]''': the commanding officer. Used in wireless transmissions.
*'''[[Hands-on Approach|ball]]''': visual indicator used in a battlestar's Instrument Landing System ([[TRS]]: [[Miniseries]], "[[Act of Contrition]]", "[[Final Cut]]", "[[Black Market]]")
*'''[[Hands-on Approach|ball]]''': visual indicator used in a battlestar's Instrument Landing System ([[TRS]]: [[Miniseries]], "[[Act of Contrition]]", "[[Final Cut]]", "[[Black Market]]")
*{{inlineref|bandit}}: confirmed hostile contact, typically either or both a fighter and shuttle sized craft ([[TRS]]: "[[Final Cut]]", "[[Razor]]")
*{{inlineref|bandit}}: confirmed hostile contact, typically either or both a fighter and shuttle sized craft {{TRS|Final Cut|Razor|}}
*{{inlineref|basic}}: initial skills training; can refer to basic military indoctrination, and arms and ground training {{TRS|Fragged}}; and basic flight training {{TRS|Miniseries}}
*{{inlineref|basic}}: initial skills training; can refer to basic military indoctrination, and arms and ground training {{TRS|Fragged}}; and basic flight training {{TRS|Miniseries}}
* {{inlineref|bent bird}}: damaged fighter craft {{TRS|Occupation}}
* {{inlineref|bent bird}}: damaged fighter craft {{TRS|Occupation}}
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*'''[[conn]]''': literally the navigation controls, but also used to refer to command in general ([[TRS]]: "[[The Captain's Hand]]")
*'''[[conn]]''': literally the navigation controls, but also used to refer to command in general ([[TRS]]: "[[The Captain's Hand]]")
*"{{inlineref|dress and cover}}": military term for personnel to form an ordered rank-and-file formation during ceremonies. Derived from "dress right" and "cover down" ([[TRS]]: "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]")
*"{{inlineref|dress and cover}}": military term for personnel to form an ordered rank-and-file formation during ceremonies. Derived from "dress right" and "cover down" ([[TRS]]: "[[Pegasus (episode)|Pegasus]]")
*{{inlineref|ell-tee}}: informal phonetic abbreviation for Lieutenant (LT) ([[TRS]]: "[[Valley of Darkness]]", "[[Fragged]]")
*{{inlineref|ell-tee}}: informal phonetic abbreviation for Lieutenant (LT) {{TRS|Valley of Darkness|Fragged|}}
*'''eyeball run''': likely refers to targeting or aiming missiles manually, without the use of targeting computers ([[TRS]]: "[[Home, Part I]]")
*'''eyeball run''': likely refers to targeting or aiming missiles manually, without the use of targeting computers ([[TRS]]: "[[Home, Part I]]")
*{{inlineref|fireteam|[[w:fireteam|fire team]]}}: basic fighting element used in small-unit ground tactics ([[TRS]]: "[[Valley of Darkness]]")
*{{inlineref|fireteam|[[w:fireteam|fire team]]}}: basic fighting element used in small-unit ground tactics ([[TRS]]: "[[Valley of Darkness]]")
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*{{inlineref|klick}}: one kilometer
*{{inlineref|klick}}: one kilometer
*{{inlineref|knuckle dragger}}: inoffensive slang for a mechanic or [[deckhand]]
*{{inlineref|knuckle dragger}}: inoffensive slang for a mechanic or [[deckhand]]
*'''[[nugget]]''': student pilot ([[TRS]]: "[[Act of Contrition]]", "[[Scar]]")
*'''[[nugget]]''': student pilot {{TRS|Act of Contrition|Scar|}}
*'''[[Mark One Eyeball]]''': the unaided eye ([[TRS]]: "[[You Can't Go Home Again]]", "[[Scar]]")
*'''[[Mark One Eyeball]]''': the unaided eye ([[TRS]]: "[[You Can't Go Home Again]]", "[[Scar]]")
*{{inlineref|no joy}}: no success in establishing visual contact with the target. Opposite of "tally". Can also mean no success in general ([[TRS]]: "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]", "[[Maelstrom]]")
*{{inlineref|no joy}}: no success in establishing visual contact with the target. Opposite of "tally". Can also mean no success in general ([[TRS]]: "[[The Hand of God (RDM)|The Hand of God]]", "[[Maelstrom]]")
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*'''[[krypter]]''': Colonial version of "mayday". In practice, the term is usually repeated three times ([[TRS]]: [[Miniseries]], "[[Hero]]")
*'''[[krypter]]''': Colonial version of "mayday". In practice, the term is usually repeated three times ([[TRS]]: [[Miniseries]], "[[Hero]]")
*{{inlineref|magcelerators}}: a magnetic acceleration feature in a {{RDM|battlestar}}'s {{RDM|launch tube}}, thus allowing the Vipers to launch at high rates of speed for rapid deployment in combat situations {{TRS|Daybreak, Part I}}
*{{inlineref|magcelerators}}: a magnetic acceleration feature in a {{RDM|battlestar}}'s {{RDM|launch tube}}, thus allowing the Vipers to launch at high rates of speed for rapid deployment in combat situations {{TRS|Daybreak, Part I}}
*'''[[morpha]]''': Colonial equivalent of morphine ([[TRS]]: "[[Valley of Darkness]]", "[[Epiphanies]]")
*'''[[morpha]]''': Colonial equivalent of morphine {{TRS|Valley of Darkness|Epiphanies|}}
*'''[[Pyramid (RDM)|Pyramid]]''': popular Colonial ball game
*'''[[Pyramid (RDM)|Pyramid]]''': popular Colonial ball game
*'''[[Red Line]]''': a point in space behind which an accumulative error creeps into [[FTL]] jump calculations ([[TRS]]: [[Miniseries]], "[[Pegasus (Extended Version)]]")
*'''[[Red Line]]''': a point in space behind which an accumulative error creeps into [[FTL]] jump calculations ([[TRS]]: [[Miniseries]], "[[Pegasus (Extended Version)]]")
*'''[[stims]]''': stimulants or a type of stimulants ([[TRS]]: "[[33]]", "[[Final Cut]]")
*'''[[stims]]''': stimulants or a type of stimulants {{TRS|33|Final Cut|}}
*'''[[Triad (RDM)|Triad]]''': card game similar to [[w:Poker|Poker]]
*'''[[Triad (RDM)|Triad]]''': card game similar to [[w:Poker|Poker]]
*'''[[tylium]]''': mineral that can be refined to a powerful fuel
*'''[[tylium]]''': mineral that can be refined to a powerful fuel

Revision as of 02:17, 9 September 2020

Part of the series on
Battlestar Galactica Terminology


This is a listing of acronyms, initialisms, jargon and terminology used in both the Re-imagined Series and its prequel, Caprica.

Abbreviations, Acronyms and Initialisms[edit]

Military Jargon[edit]

  • Actual: the commanding officer. Used in wireless transmissions.
  • ball: visual indicator used in a battlestar's Instrument Landing System (TRS: Miniseries, "Act of Contrition", "Final Cut", "Black Market")
  • bandit: confirmed hostile contact, typically either or both a fighter and shuttle sized craft (TRS: "Final Cut", "Razor""[[|]]")[[Category:]]
  • basic: initial skills training; can refer to basic military indoctrination, and arms and ground training (TRS: "Fragged"); and basic flight training (TRS: "Miniseries")
  • bent bird: damaged fighter craft (TRS: "Occupation")
  • bingo fuel: minimum fuel level required to safely return to base (TRS: "You Can't Go Home Again", "Scar")
  • bird farm: Colonial pilot jargon for a battlestar (TRS: "Final Cut")
  • bug out: retreat, usually hastily and disordered (TRS: "Valley of Darkness")
  • callsign: a nickname used as a substitute for an aviator's given name in wireless communications and in conversation
  • chatter: to fire on an enemy during a fighter engagement (TRS: "Valley of Darkness"); active wireless communications traffic
  • code blue: request for assistance due to potential Cylon agent sighting (TRS: "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II", Podcast:Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II)
  • command authority: the senior rank in a command, such as an Admiral (TRS: "Pegasus", "Precipice")
  • conn: literally the navigation controls, but also used to refer to command in general (TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
  • "dress and cover": military term for personnel to form an ordered rank-and-file formation during ceremonies. Derived from "dress right" and "cover down" (TRS: "Pegasus")
  • ell-tee: informal phonetic abbreviation for Lieutenant (LT) (TRS: "Valley of Darkness", "Fragged""[[|]]")[[Category:]]
  • eyeball run: likely refers to targeting or aiming missiles manually, without the use of targeting computers (TRS: "Home, Part I")
  • fire team: basic fighting element used in small-unit ground tactics (TRS: "Valley of Darkness")
  • five-'graph order: five paragraph operation order, the standard format taught in basic training (TRS: "Fragged")
  • genny: power generator. Tyrol asked Cally to "find the genny" to power up the lights on Ragnar Anchorage (TRS: "Miniseries")
  • hack: the brig
  • hard deck: the threshold in a massive gas planet's dense atmosphere below which the atmospheric density and pressure becomes too great for a Viper to be able to reach orbit again and maintain structural integrity (TRS: "Maelstrom"); adapted from the original definition of minimum safe altitude.
  • intra-atmos entry: a jump maneuver that places the ship within a planetary body's atmosphere, in either powered flight (TRS: "Home, Part II") or free fall (TRS: "Exodus, Part II")
  • jock smock: flight suit (TRS: "He That Believeth In Me")
  • jump: the process of using the FTL engines to make an near-instantaneous apparent faster-than-light transport of a ship from one point in space to another
  • klick: one kilometer
  • knuckle dragger: inoffensive slang for a mechanic or deckhand
  • nugget: student pilot (TRS: "Act of Contrition", "Scar""[[|]]")[[Category:]]
  • Mark One Eyeball: the unaided eye (TRS: "You Can't Go Home Again", "Scar")
  • no joy: no success in establishing visual contact with the target. Opposite of "tally". Can also mean no success in general (TRS: "The Hand of God", "Maelstrom")
  • Old Man: slang for Commander William Adama (TRS: "33")
  • press: directive to continue the attack (TRS: "Maelstrom")
  • recovery line: imaginary boundary within which a fighter can return to a landing bay within a given time (TRS: "33")
  • rook: "rookie". Typically refers to those on their first tour of duty after initial training. (TRS: "Miniseries")
  • shooter: slang for launch officer (TRS: Miniseries, Night 1)
  • Sierra Alpha: "suspicious activity" (TRS: "Scattered")
  • sitrep: "situation report"
  • skids up: "take off" or "launch"; often used by the CAG to end a mission briefing.
  • skosh (ammo): radio code meaning "out of ammunition", analagous to modern-day NATO brevity code "winchester". Skosh is also a real NATO brevity term meaning "Aircraft is out of or unable to employ active radar missiles" (TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
  • sparrow: slang for a Cylon Raider (TRS: "Maelstrom")
  • spinner: engineering component of a battlestar's FTL drive (TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
  • swallow: decoy drone deployed by Raptors (TRS: "Miniseries")
  • snipe: engineer (TRS: "The Captain's Hand")
  • spooch: Contraction of "screwed the pooch," describing a serious pilot error (TRS: "Scar")
  • tally: Abbreviation of tally-ho; the sighting of an enemy target, such as a craft, landmark, or position (TRS: "The Hand of God", "Scattered", "Maelstrom").
  • trap: a battlestar landing bay mechanism which arrests a landing Viper, Raptor or other small craft (TRS: "Final Cut")
  • Two Alpha: designation for an extremely risky and hence voluntary mission (TRS: "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part I")
  • turkey: slang for a Cylon Heavy Raider (TRS: "Maelstrom")
  • unrep: short for Underway Replenishment. Refueling and replenishment between ships away from dock, usually during flight. Taken from the contemporary term for the resupply of military vessels at sea while enroute. (TRS: "Water", "Maelstrom")
  • weapons free: weapon control order indicating weapons systems may be fired at any target not positively recognized as friendly (TRS: "Resurrection Ship, Part I")
  • weapons hot: weapons status indicating that safeties are off and weapons systems are armed (TRS: "Final Cut")
  • wilco: "will comply"

Religious terminology[edit]

Other Colloquialisms[edit]

Battlestar Galactica Specific Terms[edit]

References[edit]

  1. The actual process is called a "jump".
  2. This term originated from the Disney film Tron: it is one of the first movies to make use of computer generated, virtual worlds with avatars.
  3. Whether the Cylons have a download facility on the planet or in orbit, Seelix uses "Download City" as a figure of speech, which is confirmed by Bradley Thompson on the Official Communiques page.