comset n.

a (usu. small, personal) communication device; cf. commlink n.

Communications

  • 1950 ‘J. Merril’ Barrier of Dread in Future July–Aug. 77/1 page image Judith Merril bibliography

    He made his instructions specific, assigned units and unit directors, answered startled questions for several hours, and, finally, flicked off the last open line on his com set, his mind finally free of the tiny doubt that had plagued it.

  • 1952 K. Neville Special Delivery in Imagination Jan. x. 10/1 page image Kris Neville bibliography

    In the left front pocket was the comset. He fumbled it out and standing naked in the gloomy dawn, whispered: ‘Parr. There is an Oholo in my hotel.’ After a pause the comset issued the tinny question: ‘Is he aware of you?’ The voice filtering through the small diaphram [sic] was without personality. [Ibid. 58/1] An hour from now—give me one hour—you’re to contact the Fleet on my comset and tell them the Oholos are going to destroy their Advanceship right before their eyes.

  • 1958 ‘C. Anvil’ Seller’s Market in Astounding Science Fiction Dec. 102/2 page image Christopher Anvil bibliography

    Corder reached down to a shelf under the dash, and took out a small hand comset.

  • 1973 A. McCaffrey A Bridle For Pegasus in Analog Science Fiction / Science Fact July 25/1 page image Anne McCaffrey bibliography

    Glaring, Gillings icily banged at his desk comset and demanded to be put through to ID. [Ibid. 29/1] Though the comset was not color, Daffyd was certain that Gillings’ face changed shade.

  • 1988 A. C. Clarke 2061 Odyssey Three xlviii. 220 page image Arthur C. Clarke bibliography

    He punched a code sequence on his comset, waited for the ‘Ready’ light to flash, and said: ‘Ganymede Central One Oh Nine—this is van. Do you receive?’

  • 1992 V. Vinge A Fire Upon the Deep xiv. 95 page image Vernor Vinge bibliography

    The commsets from the boat, they really aren’t good enough to call for help?

  • 2006 D. Duane The Empty Chair (Star Trek) vii. 112 page image Diane Duane bibliography

    How like him to think of me, Arrhae thought, and touched the control that would connect her to the old man’s private commset.

  • 2016 E. M. Craig Prometheus & the Dragon viii. 62 page image Eric Michael Craig

    He always wore a comset and would talk to Mia.


Research requirements

antedating 1950

Earliest cite

Judith Merril, in Future

Research History
Clive Shergold submitted a number of cites.

Last modified 2026-06-03 13:08:34
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.