tlhIngan-Hol Archive: Mon Jul 09 08:01:21 2007
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Re: Klingon WOTD: lolSeHcha (noun)
>This is the Klingon Word Of The Day for Monday, July 9, 2007.
>
>Klingon word: lolSeHcha
>Part of Speech: noun
>Definition: attitude-control thrusters
Plural only?
"Weirdly, although Maltz said he knew of no noun meaning 'attitude', the
noun {lol} may show up in {lolSeHcha} 'attitude control thrusters'.
Although the middle element of this word, {SeH}, is certainly the verb
'control', the full etymology of this word is far from clear. (If the final
element, {cha}, is, in fact, {cha} 'torpedoes', this may shed some light on
early versions of the device. On the other hand, something else may be
going on here; maybe {lolSeHcha} is shortened from a longer construction.
Maltz didn't know the answer, but he said it was an interesting question."
(HQ 11.2: 8-9)
Small propulsion units used to control the spacial orientation of a
spacecraft (its attitude: i.e. {Der} "yaw", {tor} "pitch", and {ron} "roll").
"These would be the small cross-shaped rocket packs one sees on the sides
of the Apollo series Service Module, or the clusters of rockets in the nose
and on either side of the tail of the Space Shuttle. (They are also the
small square openings in four spots around the saucer of the Enterprise-A
which are surrounded by orange paint.)" (Qob)
In ST6 Chang's cloaked BOP fired upon Kronos One, causing it to list and
spin almost out of control. The "attitude control thrusters" were disabled.
(Scott Inman)
Related nouns:
{'eDSeHcha} take-off/landing thrusters; {chuyDaH} thrusters (pl.) and {vIj}
thruster (sg.)
Related verbs:
{laQ} fire (e.g. thrusters); {ghoS} thrust; {vo'} propel
Cf. also {lol} be in an attitude (i.e. aircraft) and {taH} be at a negative
angle (aircraft?).
--
Voragh
Ca'Non Master of the Klingons