infartillery n.— «The Evans Group (a.k.a. “Infartillery”) consisted of and 11th Marines detachment and and detachments of the 3d 15mm Howitzer and 8th 155mm Gun battalions. Both groups were reinforced with engineer, amtrac, and service troops.» —by...
plumber n.— «I was a flight engineer for two carriers while I waited for a flying position, and wore three stripes at both airlines. The slang aviation term “plumber” refers to a flight engineer.» —“Scrambled eggs on my hat” by Meryl Getline USA...
alligator n.— «In the summer, there are lots of retreads.…We refer to them as alligators because they’re heavy and have steel in the treads so they can bite you.» —“Retired engineer now a highway angel” by Sarah Schulz Grand Island Independent (Neb...
coffin car n.— «The reason the Glendale tragedy was so severe is that train 100—like many commuter trains across the country—was being operated without a locomotive up front. The train was in what’s called “push/pull mode.” A locomotive pulls the...
talk out (the side of) one’s neck v. phr.— «Fuhrman is a creature who seems invented to indict the Juice and engineer his acquittal. He’s a two-headed-talking-out-the-side-of-his-neck beast of the apocalypse, who brought new formations of knowledge...
woobie n.— «I don’t actually even know how to spell the word “woobie.” All I know is that the Engineer always used it to mean “a shirt that is really warm and comfortable, but that is in such bad shape that you could never wear it outside your...
