grav n. 1
an anti-gravitational propulsion device; (typically as) gravs: a propulsion system using antigravity
Propulsion
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1939
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Nelson S. Bond
bibliography
‘Gravs on, Bartram!’ ‘Gravs on, sir!’
Fugitives from Earth in Amazing Stories Dec. 14/2 -
1942
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Maybe a rocket tube woulda slipped its moorings; maybe the gravs woulda gone dead without no reason.
Cosmic Derelict in Planet Stories 23/1 -
1946
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Richard S. Shaver
bibliography
But I had much to learn, for as the Darkspear nosed down to a landing beside the Freyan ship in the sea of Freyanania, I saw that there were indeed wonders on this little planet, which had quite a strong gravity, for as we shut off the gravs and all the motors of the Darkspear, the load on our feet decreased but little.
Earth Slaves to Space in Amazing Stories Sept. 41/2 -
1958
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Dwight V. Swain
bibliography
He climbed in and depressed the lift-pedal. The gravs took hold.
Stay Out of Space! in Imaginative Tales 19/2 -
1967
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C. C. MacApp
bibliography
Other light flares bloomed all over the area, descending very slowly on gravs.
Beachhead for Gree in Worlds of If Feb. 155/1 -
1999
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Mark W. Tiedemann
bibliography
Dobbs, Cryshuil’s engineer, grunted and leaned close to the green…. ‘Gravs should work right now?’ He scowled unhappily.
Chasing Sacrifice in Science Fiction Age Jan. 46/2 -
2009
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Tanith Lee
bibliography
I informed the captains of what I’d be doing. By then Spanish Lady’s gravs had warmed to full power. I watched as we made lift-up through the ice sky and the fading purple, into a darkness where the city lost its glare, and instead the bright wasps of stars had left their silver-swollen stings.
Sky Won’t Listen in Sky Whales and Other Wonders 23
Research requirements
antedating 1939
Earliest cite
Nelson S. Bond
Research History
Fred Galvin submitted a 1942 cite from Nelson S. Bond's "The Ballad of Venus Nell".Fred Galvin submitted a cite from a 1949 reprint of Nelson S. Bond's (writing as George Danzell) "The Castaway" which Mike Christie verified in its 1940 first publication.
Fred Galvin submitted a 1946 cite from Richard S. Shaver's "Earth Slaves to Space".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1947 cite from Henry Hasse's "Trail of the Astrogar".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1950 cite from James H. Schmitz's "The Truth About Cushgar".
Ben Ostrowsky submitted a 2009 cite from Tanith Lee.
Last modified 2021-10-15 00:51:55
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entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries
in OED.