vibroknife n.

1973 A. D. Foster Bloodhype 14 Alan Dean Foster bibliography
It appears to be a Secun vibraknife, battery powered. Very efficient. It will cut many metals, most plastics, but not ceramic alloy and a few other things.
1985 G. R. R. Martin in Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact Jan. 51/2 George R. R. Martin
Kaj Nevis had produced a vibroknife. The slender, humming blade, which could slice through solid steel, was a blur of motion less than a centimeter from Tuf’s nose.
1986 D. Brin & G. Benford Heart of Comet 288 David Brin Gregory Benford bibliography
Her mouth went dry as she saw the slim-bladed vibro-knife lying next to the corpse.
1988 S. Lee & S. Miller Partners In Necessity 223
The gleam was a vibroknife, not yet live.
1999 L. Evans Stray in D. Weber Worlds of Honor (2000) 64 Linda Evans bibliography
Scott fumbled the vibro-knife off his belt clip and switched it on. The blade would cut through virtually anything known. It made short work of a section of branch as thick as Scott’s wrist.
2003 R. Morgan Broken Angels 326
He took the vibroknife from Loemanako, activated it and kicked Hand again, stamping him onto his belly in the sand.
2003 L. E. Modesitt Ethos Effect xiv. 85 L. E. Modesitt, Jr. bibliography
The first man—blocky and young—had a vibroknife. Van slammed that aside and twisted the heel of his boot through the would-be attacker’s knee. The crunch was sickening. Van twisted the man’s wrist and upper arm, with another snap, and the vibroknife dropped to the stone walk.

Research requirements

antedating 1973

Earliest cite

Alan Dean Foster, 'Bloodhype'

Research History

Malcolm Farmer submitted a cite from a reprint of George R.R. Martin's "Plague Star"; Mike Christie verified it in the 1985 first magazine appearance.
Dan Tilque submitted a 1991 cite for the form "vibra-knife" from Lois McMaster Bujold's "Barrayar".
Malcolm Farmer submitted a cite from a 2000 reprint of Linda Evans' 1999 "The Stray".
Enoch Forrester submitted a cite from a 1987 reprint of Greg Benford and David Brin's 1986 "Heart of the Comet".
Michael Dolbear submitted a cite from a 2003 reprint of Sharon Lee and Steve Miller's "Conflict of Honors".
Douglas Winston submitted a cite from a 2004 reprint of L.E.Modesitt,Jr.'s 2003 "The Ethos Effect".
Ralf Brown located a cite in the form "vibrakife" in an electronic text of Alan Dean Foster's 1973 "Bloodhype", and David Dyer-Bennet verified it in a paper copy.
Malcolm Farmer submitted a 2003 cite from Richard Morgan's "Broken Angels"

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