Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction
Order by: alphabetical | chronological
| Word | Definition |
|---|---|
| jack in v. (1970) | to connect one's brain directly to a computer or cybernetic device by means of a cybernetically implanted data jack |
| jaunt v. (1956) | esp. in reference to teleportation by psychic rather than technological means: = teleport v. 1; = teleport v. 2 |
| Jedi n. (1973) | in the fictional universe of the Star Wars franchise: a member of an order of heroic, skilled warrior monks who are able to harness the mystical power of the Force. Also in extended and allusive use; esp. someone (humorously) credited with great skill or preternatural powers. Also more fully Jedi knight, Jedi master |
| Jedi mind trick n. (1981) | in the fictional universe of the Star Wars franchise: a telepathic technique of psychological manipulation used by the Jedi |
| jet car n. (1946) | a form of aircar powered by jets |
| jet pack n. (1952) | a device, worn over the shoulders like a backpack, that enables the wearer to travel through the air or in space by means of jet propulsion |
| Jonbar adj. (1977) | in time-travel or alternate-history contexts: denoting a point at which a (trivial) action can result in a significantly different timeline (chiefly in form Jonbar hinge, Jonbar point) |
| Jovian n. 1 (1869) | a native or inhabitant of the planet Jupiter |
| Jovian n. 2 (1932) | the language of Jovians |
| Jovian adj. (1799) | of or relating to the planet Jupiter |
| jump n. (1932) | a journey through hyperspace n.; any (nearly) instantaneous travel over a large distance; cf. jump v. |
| jump v. (1952) | to journey through hyperspace n.; to engage in any (nearly) instantaneous travel over a long distance; cf. jump n. |
| jump drive n. (1959) | a spacecraft drive that enables a ship to journey through hyperspace or to engage in any instantaneous (long-distance) travel; cf. jump n., jump v. |
| jump engine n. (1981) | = jump drive n. |
| jump gate n. (1993) | a device that opens up a portal into hyperspace n., or otherwise enables (nearly) instantaneous travel; the gateway thus opened up; cf. gate n. |
| jump pilot n. (1983) | one who pilots a spaceship through a jump n. |
| jump point n. (1964) | a location where interstellar jumps are possible |
| jumpship n. (1957) | a spaceship that makes interstellar jumps |
| jumpspace n. (1961) | hyperspace n.; the (notional) space in which ships travel during a jump |
| Jupiterian n. (1855) | a native or inhabitant of the planet Jupiter |
| Jupiterian adj. (1907) | of or pertaining to the planet Jupiter or its inhabitants |
| kiloday n. (1945) | a period of one thousand days |
| kilohour n. (1989) | a period of one thousand hours |
| kiloyear n. (1945) | a period of one thousand years |
| kipple n. (1960) | useless or unwanted (household) objects; junk; rubbish |
| Klingon n. (1967) | in the fictional universe of the Star Trek franchise: a member of a humanoid alien race, characterized by authoritarian brutality and a strict code of honor; (also) the language of this race, now widely studied as an artificial language |