photon torpedo n.
in the fictional universe of the Star Trek franchise: a ship-based weapon in which a destructive force is generated by a collision of matter and antimatter
Originally on Star Trek, and still primarily used in reference to it.
Memory Alpha
Star Trek
Weaponry
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1968
Robert Hamner
Gene L. Coon
I wanted to bounce a couple of dozen photon torpedoes off them for a starter.
Taste of Armageddon in J. Blish Star Trek 2 22
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1968
bibliography
The Enterprise is equipped with a second type of offensive weapon, called photon torpedos, which are energy pods of matter and anti-matter contained and held temporarily separated in a magno-photon force field.
in S. E. Whitfield & G. Roddenberry Making of ‘Star Trek’ ii. 194
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1971
James Blish
Set photon torpedoes two, four and six for widest possible scatter the three highest intercept probabilities.
Star Trek 4 62
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1984
Diane Duane
bibliography
What the hell are they doing here? Mr. Chekov, arm photon torpedoes, prepare to lock phasers on for firing. Mr. Sulu, prepare evasive action but do not execute.
My Enemy, my Ally vi. 85
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1985
Wouldn’t mind spending some time there collecting specimens—if I had a healthy supply of photon torpedoes and a reliable scanner alarm.
Pawns & Symbols vi. 82
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1986
Diane Carey
bibliography
Star Empire…carries five dual-mount phaser banks, four banks of photon torpedoes.
Dreadnought! iii. 35
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1989
David Dvorkin
Daniel Dvorkin
bibliography
Thermal radiation indicates that it came from the explosion of a starship by photon torpedo.
Star Trek: Next Generation: Captains' Honor i. 19
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1989
David Dvorkin
Daniel Dvorkin
bibliography
As soon as that area rotated back into view, photon torpedoes flashed out from beneath the Centurion ’s saucer and into the area of weakened M'dok deflector shields.
Star Trek: Next Generation: Captains' Honor viii. 157
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1990
And our ship’s phaser banks, and the photon torpedoes.
Home is Hunter ii. 9
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1996
James E. Gunn
If we had a diversion from the Enterprise. Phasers. Photon torpedoes.
Joy Machine ix. 131
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1996
William Shatner
They were low-yield photon torpedoes.
Return ii. 14
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1998
Greg Cox
bibliography
Photon torpedoes loaded and ready to go.
Assignment: Eternity v. 66
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1999
Michael Jan Friedman
bibliography
Phasers, disruptors, photon torpedoes…none of those technologies had been invented yet.
My Brother's Keeper . v. 61
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2012
page image
Rob Reid
bibliography
It took about fifteen minutes to get the truth about the aliens across to him. [...] ‘So now what?’ he finally asked dejectedly. ‘Is he gonna blow us all up with a photon torpedo?’ I shook my head. ‘He can’t harm us directly. So he needs to get us to destroy ourselves somehow. And it’s a safe bet he’ll be using the shipment that he booked right after he figured out that I’m not a Guardian.’
Year Zero xvi. 254
Research requirements
antedating 1968
Earliest cite
S.E. Whitfield, Making of Star Trek
Research History
Ben Ostrowsky submitted a 2012 cite from Rob Reid.Added to the OED in March 2006 with an earliest date of 1968.
Last modified 2021-11-18 16:57:20
In the compilation of some
entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries
in OED.