impervium n.
a virtually impenetrable or indestructible substance
Now rare.
-
1932
I hardly thought the telescope would penetrate the impervium walls of the tower.
Buck Rogers in Oakland (Calif.) Tribune Comics 18 Dec. 1/3 -
1933
The hull is made of impervium—thousands of times harder than any other substance.
Buck Rogers in Syracuse (N.Y.) Herald 27 Mar. 14/2 -
1943
page image
bibliography
A half mile beneath the shallow Venusian sea the black impervium dome that protects Montana Keep rests frowningly on the bottom.
Clash By Night in Astounding Science-Fiction Mar. 9/1
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1944
page image
Leigh Brackett
bibliography
Farrell went on screaming. His throat seemed to be lined with impervium.
Terror Out of Space in Planet Stories Summer 36/1
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1946
Someone or something was outside for through the thick impervium of the hull there came a muffled beating.
Coffin Cargo in Planet Comics Nov. 33/2
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1949
Raymond Z. Gallun
But don’t worry, the impervium plates on the ship will protect us!
Mysta Of Moon in Planet Comics Jan. 43
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1949
L. Ron Hubbard
bibliography
We had no air, we had no water, we had no food and our drives—antique directors which had gone out with Lorrilard—had burned themselves into a dainty crisp of curled impervium.
Emperor of Universe in Startling Stories Nov. 139/2
-
1971
page image
John Brunner
bibliography
It was proofed by a coating of impervium against the risk of meteorites striking.
Dramaturges of Yan in Fantastic Dec. 56/1 -
2005
Wil McCarthy
bibliography
Our armor was struck by multiple projectiles—five-gram impervium wirebombs.
To Crush Moon iv. 61
Research requirements
antedating 1932
Earliest cite
Buck Rogers syndicated cartoon
Research History
Suggested by Malcolm Farmer.Fred Galvin submitted a cite from a 1953 reprint of Hugh Frazier Parker's 1943 "The Sword of Johnny Damokles".
Fred Galvin submitted a cite from a 1952 reprint of "Lawrence O'Donnell's" (pseud. of Kuttner & Moore) 1943 "Clash By Night"; Mike Christie verified the cite in the 1943 first appearance.
Fred Galvin submitted a 1949 cite from "Rene LaFayette's" "The Emperor of the Universe".
Fred Galvin submitted a cite from a 1959 reprint of Leigh Brackett's 1944 "Terror Out of Space".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1962 cite from Jeff Sutton's "After Ixmal".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1946 cite from Thornecliffe Herrick's "Coffin Cargo".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1949 cite from Ross Gallun's "Mysta of the Moon".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1942 cite from "A Leader for Korcin" by F. Orlin Tremaine The OED has early-1930s examples from the syndicated Buck Rogers cartoons.
(Impervium is now a trademarked name for a type of stainless steel)
Last modified 2021-01-26 16:48:01
In the compilation of some
entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries
in OED.