commlink n.

a communication link; a communication device

Communications

  • 1974 G. Lucas Star Wars (film script: rough draft, May) 27 George Lucas

    The general enters a communication center…. The aides go back to the com-link system to try to get a line through to the king.

  • 1983 D. Brin Startide Rising 403 David Brin

    Gillian reached for the comm link, but the carrier wave cut off before she could say another word.

  • 1986 L. M. Bujold Shards of Honor (1991) 8 Lois McMaster Bujold

    She heard the crackle of a nerve disruptor as she pitched backward into the ravine, stunner and comm link flying from her hands.

  • 1990 A. McCaffrey & E. Moon Sassinak (1991) 171 Anne McCaffrey Elizabeth Moon bibliography

    What’s your cleanest com link?

  • 1995 D. W. Smith & K. K. Rusch Star Trek Voyager: Escape i. 7 Dean Wesley Smith Kristine Kathryn Rusch bibliography

    ‘Both officers on board, Captain.’ Ensign Hoffman’s mellifluous voice sounded tinny through her comm link from the transporter room.

  • 1998 W. H. Keith Bolo Rising 187

    He wore, Dieter saw, an earplug commlink, with the thread mike extended to rest beside his lips.

  • 1999 C. Pellegrino & G. Zebrowski Star Trek Next Generation: Dyson Sphere ii. 43 George Zebrowski Charles Pellegrino bibliography

    ‘Lock closing, now,’ Data called from the Enterprise ’s comlink.

  • 2020 M. Cole Sixteenth Watch 19 Myke Cole bibliography

    ‘Don’t!’ Chief’s voice sounded in their commlinks.


Research requirements

antedating 1974

Earliest cite

George Lucas, "Star Wars" rough draft

Research History
Mike Christie submitted a cite from a 1990 reprint of Dan Simmons' "Hyperion".
Roger Wilcox submitted a cite from a 1977 reprint of George Lucas' (actually Alan Dean Foster's) "Star Wars"; we would like to check the 1976 first edition.
Dan Tilque submitted a 1989 cite from Lois McMaster Bujold's "Brothers In Arms".

Enoch Forrester submitted a 1983 cite from David Brin's "Startide Rising".
Malcolm Farmer submitted a cite from a 1989 reprint of W.T. Quick's 1989 "Dreams of Flesh and Sand".
Mike Christie located and Doug Rynda verified a 1998 cite from William Keith's "Bolo Rising".
Katrina Campbell submitted a cite for the form "com link" from a 1991 reprint of Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon's 1990 "Sassinak".
Malcolm Farmer submitted a cite for the form "comm-link" from a 1987 reprint of George Martin's "Loaves and Fishes" in "Tuf Voyaging"; Mike Christie checked the 1985 first magazine appearance and found that it was spelled "com-link" in that version.
Joshua Stratton located cites in an electronic version of a rough draft (dated 5/74) of George Lucas's script for Star Wars. Jesse Sheidlower verified this in a PDF of the original document.

Last modified 2020-12-16 04:08:47
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.