Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

Order by: alphabetical | chronological ( asc | desc )



First date Word Definition
1929 space bus n. (1929) a spacecraft designed to ferry people (and sometimes freight) short distances
1929 spacecraft n. (1929) any vehicle designed to travel in space
1929 space fiction n. (1929) science fiction set in space or on other worlds, or involving space travel n.
1929 space gun n. 1 (1929) a large gun which projects a spacecraft into space; (also) a hand-held gun whose recoil is used by an astronaut for propulsion
1929 space navigator n. (1929) one who navigates a spaceship; = astrogator n.
1929 space suit n. (1929) a sealed and pressurized garment designed to protect the wearer against the conditions of space; cf. earlier suit n.
1929 space vessel n. (1929) = spaceship n.
1929 star system n. (1929) a planetary system; = solar system n.
1929 superscience n. (1929) extremely advanced science; science beyond what is possible based on known laws
1929 Terrene adj. 1 (1929) = Terran adj.
1929 Terrene n. (1929) = Terran n. 1
1930 airlock n. (1930) a small intermediate compartment with controlled pressure and two airtight doors, used to facilitate movement between the interior and exterior of a spacecraft; (also) either of the doors to such a compartment; cf. space lock n.
1930 Aldebaranian n. 1 (1930) a native or inhabitant of the Aldebaran system
1930 Callistonian n. (1930) = Callistan n. 1
1930 Callistonian adj. (1930) = Callistan adj.
1930 Earthbound adj. 2 (1930) based on Earth; unable to leave Earth
1930 ether radio n. (1930) a device for communicating over long distances through the ether; cf. sub-ether n.
1930 Europan n. 1 (1930) a native or inhabitant of the Jovian moon Europa
1930 Europan n. 2 (1930) the language of Europans
1930 face plate n. (1930) the transparent window of a spacesuit’s helmet
1930 fantastic adj. (1930) having the quality of fantasy n. 1
1930 flame pistol n. (1930) a pistol that shoots flames; cf. flame gun n.
1930 Galactic n. 1 (1930) a language commonly spoken throughout a galaxy; cf. Standard n.
1930 glassite n. (1930) a strong transparent synthetic material; an artificial substitute for glass
1930 gravity n. (1930) = gee n. 2
1930 gravity plate n. (1930) a device that creates or nullifies the effects of gravity
1930 groundcar n. (1930) a car incapable of flight (in contrast with an aircar n.)
1930 group mind n. (1930) a collective intelligence composed of individual intelligences combined into a larger whole, esp. where the resulting consciousness exerts control over its constituent members; hive mind n.
1930 home system n. (1930) the solar system in which an individual being is from; the solar system in which a species originated
1930 inhuman adj. (1930) not human; alien
1930 lifeship n. (1930) an emergency spacecraft; lifeboat n.
1930 life tube n. (1930) an escape pod having a cylindrical shape; cf. lifeboat n.