Skid lid, cage, and backyard are all slang terms from the world of motorcycle enthusiasts. A skid lid is a helmet, a cage is an automobile, and a backyard is a favorite place to ride. The phrase lay it down means to have a motorcyle accident. This...
hats and bats n.pl.— «Over the last decade, there has been running disagreement within the LAPD about when and where to deploy so-called tactical gear (in police parlance, “hats and bats”) and whether the equipment officers wear can itself change...
low speed adj.— «“Roger that,” said Young, clutching his soggy worksheet. “You guys are high speed.” High speed is a military term of endearment. Low speed, conversely, denotes anything uncool, such as Gussman’s older-edition helmet, which kept...
spearing n.— «A helmet-to-helmet hit on a quarterback, or on a receiver in the act of making a catch is illegal. Also illegal: hitting a player already on the ground with a helmet or “spearing,” as it’s commonly called.» —“The message is clear to...
dangle n.— «Griffin was a big guy, even without the bulky body armor, helmet, and “dangle”—what soldiers call the bits of gear that they clip, strap, or otherwise buckle to their uniforms. He had half a dozen rifle magazines strapped across his...
dome of obedience n.— «Maybe now you can get one of those new MICH helmets to wear. No more headaches like the kevlar “dome of obedience.” So comfortable, it doubles as a pillow…no shit.» —“SGT Shawn Snyder—Sniper Headshot Stopped By...
