mach diamond n.— «Nerves jangling, he awaits the moment when Carpe Diem, his homemade 18-foot-long rocket, hurls itself heavenward with 737 pounds of thrust, shockwaves—or “mach diamonds”—surging from its supersonic exhaust.» —“A...
rocket rat n.— «It is an unforgiving hobby, but it is arguably safer for participants than in the past. Like many of the Black Rock “rocket rats”—largely men of a certain age—Mike Mullane, 61, a retired space shuttle astronaut, recalled...
cato n.— «Cnce a year, on this bleak, 400-square-mile dry lake bed, they meet for the Indy 500 of rocketry, with waivers from the Federal Aviation Administration. This year, the subculture itself is on the defensive, unsure whether it...
boo word n.— «Donald Nelson warned that Hitler’s hustlers are baiting the chumps with trick words, whispering about our industry being “sovietized,” the biggest boo word of the bunch.» —“Winchell on...
hiss-and-boo word n.— «Reid said Riley’s appointment means public education will no longer be a “hiss-and-boo word.”» —“Energy nominee wants nuke dump” by Tony Batt Las Vegas Review...
tuna boat n.— «Before there were emission controls and high gas prices, there were what I “lovingly” refer to as “tuna boats.” They call themselves “bombers.” They are the rolling irons that have...