atomics n. 1
any device powered by nuclear energy, esp. a nuclear-powered engine
Propulsion
-
1932
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John W. Campbell, Jr.
bibliography
The slim, graceful ship rose smoothly into the atmosphere…as the gentle hum of mighty Farrel Atomics poured their millions of horsepower into the McKinley space-drive discs.
Electronic Siege in Wonder Stories Apr. 1247/2 -
1944
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Clifford D. Simak
bibliography
Webster smiled at the fireplace with its blazing wood…. Useless because atomic heating was better—but more pleasant. One couldn’t sit and watch atomics and dream and build castles in the flames.
Huddling Place in Astounding Science-Fiction July 137/1 -
1952
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Chad Oliver
bibliography
The two men fell silent then, looking at the neat brown rows of sacks, feeling the star ship tremble slightly under them with the thunder of her great atomics.
Blood's a Rover in Astounding Science-Fiction May 17/2 -
1954
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Walter M. Miller, Jr.
bibliography
He stood…feeling his small sub rocking gently in the calm sea, listening to the quiet purr of the atomics beneath him.
Way of a Rebel in Worlds of If Apr. 42/1 -
1972
Marion Zimmer Bradley
bibliography
There evidently wasn’t a leak in the atomics after all—that girl from Comm checked out with no radiation burns.
Darkover Landfall (1987) 10
Research requirements
antedating 1932
Earliest cite
J.W. Campbell, in Wonder Stories
Research History
We would like later examples from any sources; this use was extremely common in the 1940s through the 1960s.
Last modified 2020-12-16 04:08:47
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entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries
in OED.