Beyond All Weapons Glossary

Stories from the Golden Age reflect the words and expressions used in the 1930s and 1940s, adding unique flavor and authenticity to the tales. While a character’s speech may often reflect regional origins, it also can convey attitudes common in the day. So that readers can better grasp such cultural and historical terms, uncommon words or expressions of the era, the following glossary has been provided.

aiguillette: a decorative cord with hanging points, worn on the shoulder of some military uniforms.

Alpha Centauri: the triple-star system that is closest to the Earth.

batteries: groups of large-caliber weapons used for combined action.

butt: portion of a year.

dog cell: a small enclosure, so called from its likeness to a dog’s kennel.

EV: extra-velocity.

freebooter: a person who goes about in search of plunder; pirate.

gangway: a narrow, movable platform or ramp forming a bridge by which to board or leave a ship.

graps: grappling hooks; devices with iron claws, attached to ropes or cables and used for dragging or grasping.

hard-boiled: tough and cynical.

ironplast: formed or molded with iron.

Jonah: somebody who brings bad luck.

Parthenon: the chief temple of the Greek goddess Athena built on the Acropolis at Athens between 447 and 432 BC.  It is the most famous surviving building of ancient Greece.

PC: Post Command; military installation where the command personnel are located.

pillboxes: small fortified shelters with flat roofs in which large guns are located.

pilot: a publication containing detailed information of an area for use by aviators. Originally from Coast Pilot, a manual published by a government for mariners, containing descriptions of coastal waters, harbor facilities, etc., for a specific area.

Vega: the fifth brightest of all stars and the third brightest in the northern sky.

West Point: US Military Academy in New York. It has been a military post since 1778 and the seat of the US Military Academy since 1802.