This started off as a glossary for THS, but has expanded to include terms for many other genres of science fiction, including many new terms that may prove useful.
Transhuman Space (THS) has its own terminology, and some of these terms may be unfamiliar to the reader.
Some of the sourcebooks have a glossary section, but one sometimes encounters a term that is defined in another title.
Currently, I do not have time to collate a THS dictionary.
This post was inspired by the observation that THS lacked a specific term for a cybershell or other device that was controlled remotely, rather than hosting an infomorph. (The term “drone” has become rather ambiguous.)
I have thrown in some other terms that may be useful, some of my own invention, some are homages to other sci-fi, or borrowed from cyberpunk.
This page does not generally contain terms already included in the glossaries in THS GURPS books.
I will be updating this page as new ideas occur, so check the version number occasionally.
Version 1.8.9.4
18 : see eighteen.
3D5S : “Three dimensional, Five senses.” Taken from a nomenclature used to describe interface systems. VII offer 3D5S experience. Wearables are usually 3D2S. VR suits usually 3D3S. Conventional television screens are 2D2S. Slinkies are sometimes described as 3D6S since they also render emotional impressions.
A
A1 to C3 : (police/political shorthand) A to C denotes wealth, with A being well-off and C poor and struggling. 1 to 3 denotes probability of violent behaviour, with 3 being most likely. A1 citizens present the least problems. C3s are very violent, but lack the resources of A3 and B3s. Most of a society are likely to be B1 and B2 “worker Bs”. A number of other terms are derived from this system. For example, “BC ratio”. Struggling nations are sometimes referred to as “all at C”.
Aesthetics : Simple cosmetic surgery.
Agma-beol : A type of bioswarm for area denial using genemod bees. Link
Agriplex : An agglomeration of farms with one central management complex. A modern-day capitalist collective farm.
Airfilm : A narrow air-cushion train.
Alsens : “All senses” simulation or media experience.
Android : A robot/cybershell with a humanoid appearance. Literally “man/male-like”.
AniMan, AniMen : Derogatory term for a body-sculpted individual, bioroid or parahuman who resembles an animal form.
Antenna : (slang) An information source such as an observer, commentator or informant.
A.P.I.S : Autonomous Pollenating Insect Simulants. “Robot-bees” used to pollinate plants in environments where suitable animals are rare or do not exist.
Arc/Arco : An arcology.
Arch : (slang) adj. Deliberately unpleasant, condescending, patronizing, sly, cunning or mischievous.
n. An enemy or foe. Contraction of archenemy, arch-nemesis etc.
Ares : Pertaining to Mars. Study of the planet is Areology.
Armbot : A robotic system that resembles a mechanical arm. Often such systems are static and installed in workshops or factories.
Arpeevi : A remotely piloted vehicle or remotely operated cybershell or bioshell. Derived from “RPV”.
Autochthon/Autochthone : Indigenous or original inhabitant(s) or species..
Aysee (AC) : (slang) Autonomous Car. More generically, any self-driving vehicle. In common practice, the terms “aysee”, “auto” and “automobile” are effectively interchangeable.
B
BACTFUTOA/Bactfutoa : (slang) Sometimes assumed to be Japanese, Korean or Indonesian, this is actually derived from “Big American Company Too Far Up Their Own Ass”. Originally coined to describe certain fast-food and entertainment mega-corporations.
Badge : (slang) Police or corporate security.
Bagged and Tagged : (slang) To die or be dead.
Bagman : A courier. Often used for a courier working for a criminal organization.
Bahcon : (pr. bah, kon!) Unconvincing vegetarian bacon substitute.
Bakebrain : Someone with limited or damaged mental faculties.
Baked : to have dimished mental faculties due to the influence of drugs or other means.
Barker : (slang) An alternate term for a fibby (qv).
'Base : Database.
Baseline : A human or other creature without significant biomods, cybernetic implants or other augmentations.
Belong Songs : (slang) derogatory term for religious hymns, nationalistic anthems and football chants.
Betamaxed : (slang) To be superseded by a technically inferior alternative.
Blank : Someone attempting to live outside official records or databases.
Big Iron : Heavy weapons or vehicles.
Bioware : Any biological enhancement or replacement.
Black/Big Black : (slang) Space.
Black Clinic : A medical facility that provides illegal or unregistered medical treatment. May also supply illegal or unregistered cyberware or biomods.
Black Ice/ Black ICE : Countermeasure software which causes physical harm or death to an intruder (see ICE). Illegal in many parts of the Solar System.
Blade : 1. A professional soldier, enforcer or fighter, particulary one specializing in or noted for their use of edged weapons. 2. A surgeon or doctor.
Bleed : (slang) To attack, injure, or kill.
Blip/Blip-Culture : “Blip” is a term used by Talhoffer to describe short packets of information, such a video clips, sound-bytes etc. A Third-Wave individual would need to be able to synthesise a world-view from the blips they were exposed to.
Most blips an individual is exposed to originate from their personal influence-sphere (qv).
Blip-Sphere/Blip-Space/Blip-Verse : see “Influence-Sphere”/
Blood Money : (slang) Income from the illegal sale of organs to a body bank.
Boarding Torpedo : A boarding pod or Microgravity Assault Vehicle (MAV), specifically one that rams a vessel to create its own entrance.
High acceleration flight and impact stresses mean such vessels invariably only carry military cybershells.
High acceleration flight and impact stresses mean such vessels invariably only carry military cybershells.
Bob-Scotted : (slang) An alternative term for “doldrumed” (qv).
Body Bank : A storage facility for transplant organs. Many are illegal and actively "recruit" new merchandise.
Body Sculpt : The process of having the body totally re-molded by vat-grown tissue and advanced plastic surgery.
Bolide : Artillery missile or rocket designed to attack bunkers or other underground structures. Typically a weapon with a large warhead, reinforced nose section and delayed detonation fusing.
Bolo : Oversized armoured military vehicle, particularly those that are autonomous.
'Borg : (slang) A cyborg, Usually refers to a full-body cyborg conversion.
Borged : Excessive use of cybernetic body modifications.
Bookscreen : Alternate name for a “book” aka “book computer”. (THS Broken Dreams p.130)
Bosozuki : (Jap.) a "street samurai.".
Bot : 1. A contraction of “robot”.
2. An autonomous program that can interact with systems or users.
Botard/Bot-Tard : Insult or exclamation. A program or mechanism that operates too slowly.
Bottlesuit : A Workpod (qv), particularly one of a cylindrical, biconical or bottle-shape.
Bount : Bounty hunter or a bounty.
Bracer/Wrister : Hand-held information and control device in a forearm mount. Used instead of VIIs in some parts of the Solar System.
This form of interface is still fairly common on most space-suits, particularly older examples.
Breaching Pod : Alternate name for a boarding pod or Microgravity Assault Vehicle (MAV), specifically one that creates its own entrance.
Breeder : a hetrosexual. Term often used to indicate the general public or the mainstream, law-abiding, conservative, straight-laced, conformist, “normal” elements of a society.
Breetva : (Rus.) “Razor”. A soldier, enforcer or fighter.
Broadway : Alternate name for the main conduit of a space vessel.
Bronze : (slang) (usually derogative) Law enforcement officials or private security.
Bubble : (slang) An alternate name for blip-space/blip-sphere/blip-verse. A person's (usually) chosen and (usually) limited sphere of experience.
Bullet-Stopper : (slang) a bodyguard.
Bunny/Bunnies : (slang) Term for residents of Luna. Derived from the “bunny-hop” used to move in one-sixth gravity.
Bunraku : (Jap.) (slang) to use puppets. Term also used for a puppet, someone under another’s control.
Buttsmoke : (slang) Untrue statements intended to flatter or inspire the listener(s). Common in business environments, churches and self-help seminars. Examples include “You can achieve anything your set your mind to”, “If you think positively good things will come” and “All it takes is hard work”. Probably derived from the slang phrase “Blowing smoke up someone's arse”.
C
Can : (slang) Space habitat, particularly one in some disrepair.
Canalazzo/Grand Canalazzo : (slang) Alternate name for the main conduit of a space vessel.
Candle/Putt-Putt : a simple, minimalist or improvised space vessel.
Can-dweller : (slang) Occupant of a space habitat.
Cartillery : Car, light truck, or chasseur(qv) used in the indirect fire support role. Typically armed with an automatic grenade launcher(s), term may also be applied to vehicles with multiple launch rockets or missiles. In addition to weapons and ammunition, the vehicle is also likely to mount ballistic computers, navigation systems and metrological sensors.
CATO : Covert Action Team/Tactical Operator. See CMO.
Capital-Vessel : (informally: “capital-ship”) Large military space vessel such as an SCV, SDV or SEV.
Carronade : Launch system for KADM (qv).
C/Si, C/Si Culture : pronounced “see-sy” or “see-sai”. Irrelevantly pronounced “sea-si”. A descriptor for the integration of biological (carbon or “C”) and electronic (silicon or “Si”) life or systems working together or in the same environment. The older term “C/Fe” (see-fee) may still be encountered.
Causing Static : Starting trouble.
Cement Poisoning : To die or be injured by falling from a height. Also known as “deceleration trauma”.
Chalk Outline : (slang) See Sidewalk outline (qv).
Chasseur : An LPMV (Light Protected Mobility Vehicle). Military vehicle intended for fast movement. Typically a lightly armoured wheeled vehicle of less than ten tonnes mass, carrying less than a full squad of baseline humans. Sometimes called a scout car, pursuit car or blitzwagen.
Check Out : (slang) To die.
Choom/Choombah/Choombatta: (Cyberpunk slang) Chum, friend, buddy, family member. Often used ironically.
“Choom” is also Australian and New Zealand slang for an Englishman. Both uses have spread through the Pacific Rim Alliance and neighbouring areas, to the annoyance of some English visitors.
Chop Shop : (slang) A black clinic (qv).
Chrome : (slang) 1. Generic reference to cyberware. 2. Flash, glitter, bells and whistles, tinsel. Material used to spice up the appearance of something.
Chromed : (slang) To be implanted with cyberware.
CIO : Covert Intelligence Operative.
Central Well : Alternate term for the main conduit (qv) of a space vessel.
Clave/’Clave : An enclave. A separate, controlled urban area for residence or other purposes.
Cleaner : 1. An assassin (or team) used to eliminate all traces of a mission, including the participants. 2. A specialist (or team) used to dispose of bodies and all traces of a crime. The antithesis of Crime Scene Invesitgators.
Cloudlife/Netlife : Alternate term for weblife. Term may also be used for social interactions conducted on-line.
CMO : Covert Military Operator.
Collar/Collarboy : (derogatory) A white-collar worker, a salaryman, usually a low-level employee.
Collective/Co-operative/Co-Op : Several cybershells or bioshells being simultaneously operated by a single infomorph.
COM-INT : An abbreviation for COMmunications INTelligence, ie. bugs & wire-taps, and their users.
Commonwealth, The : (aka “The British Commonwealth of Nations” or “British Commonwealth”) A voluntary association of states, many (but not all) former territories or colonies of the British Empire.
The Commonwealth is primarily a means of cultural exchange. In recent years Canada has taken an increasingly central role in Commonwealth administration.
Membership includes nations that are part of the Caribbean Union, European Union, Indian Bloc, Pacific Rim Alliance, Southern African Coalition and a number of unaligned nations including Canada, Gabon, Belize and Pakistan.
The Commonwealth has often proved a useful intermediary between nations and alliances. Its influence is resented by some factions in Washington.
Comp-panion : An alternate term for an AI companion, as found in a VII or WVI.
Conduit : Main passageway of a space vessel, usually running most of a vessel's length. Link
Construct : ("CON-struct") A mobile, complex program, often combining multiple pieces of (diffrent types of) IC.
Control B : (slang) to act bold, brash, obvious, ostentatious.
Corp : 1. Corporation. 2. Of or relating to a corporation, its assets, personnel, or anything corporate.
Corpse : (slang) A corporate worker, executive, or corporate. Sometimes interpreted as CORPorate Sleaziness Expert or CORPorate Security Expert.
CORPorate Security Expert : Euthemism for a corporate assassin.
Corpsicle : (slang) Someone in stasis or suspended animation.
Cortex Bomb : A small, implanted explosive device (usually in the skull or junction of skull and spine) A cortex bomb detonates in response to a timer or remote signal. Most cortex bombs will detonate automatically if tampered with. Usually implanted against the wearer's will to keep them in line.
Counterstriker : An active defence system against missiles.
Cousines : Blood relations beyond cousins.
Courier : See “Packet”.
Crabbot/Crab-Bot : A cybershell or other robotic device resembling a crab.
Crease: (slang) To kill.
Creased: (slang) Killed.
CTO : Covert Technical Operative/Officer. Provides technical support and/or specialist skills in the field for covert/clandestine operations.
Cutter : Short-range patrol and pursuit space vessel. Often resembles a frigate (qv) configured for inspection and boarding roles.
Cyberware : Any cybernetic/bionic body implant which replaces or augments a specific body function.
Cytherea : Pertaining to Venus. Study of the planet is Cytherology.
D
Dark, The : (slang) Space. (See Big Black)
Darkeye : capability to darken the sclera of the eye. A feature of some bionic eyes. Capability may be added to organic eyes as a bionic enhancement or biomod.
Demeter : Pertaining to Ceres. Study of the dwarf planet is Demeterology.
Deep Reality : The real world we live in. As opposed to the realities we create for ourselves within our minds (e.g. fantasy games) and in our processors (e.g. cyberspace),
Derm/Derma/Dermal : 1. A transdermal or adhesive patch containing medication or recreational drugs. 2. A designer drug, applied to by a skin patch.
De-Rezz : (slang) 1. To terminate a program. 2. To kill someone.
DI : Digital Intelligence. A computer intelligence made up of the recorded knowledge of one or more human experts. This is less complex and expensive than developing an AI.
Dimestick/Dimedart : A 15mm micromissile. Term chiefly used in the USA or by Americans. A dime coin is approximately the same diameter as a micromissile.
Dirtgirl/Dirtboy/Dirtsider : (derogatory Orbital slang) 1. An Earth woman/man. 2. term for someone who rarely or never is in space.
Dirtside : A reference to a planetary surface (as opposed to space).
Dirty Belter : Someone from the outer edge of the asteroid belt, particularly from those settlements that use D-T fusion reactors for power (hence “dirty” as opposed to “clean” He3). Term may or may not be derogatory, depending on context and speaker.
Dock : (slang) To have sex.
Doldrumed : (slang) Immobilised and stationary when in a weightless environment. Occurs in large spaces when an individual cannot reach a surface to push against and lacks sufficient momentum or a means of propulsion to reach a surface. Also know as “Bob-Scotted”, after a story by Arthur C. Clarke.
Domo Arigato : (Jap.) "thank you.".
Doppel/Dopple : (slang) Term used for an on-line or VR avatar. Derived from the German “Doppelganger”.
'Dorph : A synthetic analogue for endorphins (painkillers produced naturally by the human body). Used to suppress pain and shock. Addictive.
Double Dipping : Using a VR simulation while already within a VR simulation.
Draga : (Hungarian) Expensive.
Droid : Although derived from the term “android”, “droid” is used less specifically and may refer to any form of robot or cybershell, or even an automatic program.
Droud : Device to deliver and regulate electric current applied directly to the pleasure centres of the brain. Also known as “a dildo of the mind”.
Dump Box/Drop Box : Cargo container used to dump material from space or high-altitude onto a planet or moon's surface. Equipped with ablation surfaces, parachutes, retro-rockets and/or other braking mechanisms, as suitable for the intended world.
Duster : (slang) Martian.
Dynamite : (slang) Term used for any explosive device using a length of lit fuse. Also used for explosive devices with a friction igniter initiated by a pull-cord or loop. Such ignition systems are used on many of the homemade grenades and pipe-bombs used by American insurgents.
E
Edge, The : Metaphorical edge of society, outskirts. Has a meaning similar to Fringe. Often associated with illegal or semi-legal acts or life-styles.
Edgerunners : An alternate, more glamorous, self-promoting term for fringers or marginals.
Edgezone : the Edge (qv), but can also mean a legal, ethical or moral grey area.
Eight-Block/8-Blok : A unit of PX-8 explosive. Due to the historical influence of the US Military, most manufacturers produce PX-8 in 450 gram units.
Eighteen/Eighteen Bits/Eighteen Digits : (slang) Universal ID code.
Electrocur : A guard dog with augmented offensive capabilities.
ELINT : ("EE-lint") An abbreviation for Electronic Intelligence.
ELSUR : (pro. "EL-sur") An abbreviation for Electronic Surveillance
El/El-Train : Elevated railway. Public transport system used in many cities.
Elsie Dee/LCD : (slang) Someone of low intelligence, lacking in imagination, or of crude tastes or simplistic beliefs. Derived from “Lowest Common Denominator”.
Eris : Pertaining to Eris. Study of the dwarf planet is Eridology.
Eunice : (slang) Uranus, or pertaining to Uranus. Sometimes preferred to the correct name by the prudish.
Evakuitorie : Facility previously referred to by vague or inaccurate euphemisms such as toilet, lavatory, refresher, personals, latrine, head, can, restroom, benjo, powder room, washroom, bathroom, comfort station, etc.
The term “evakuitorie” has been promoted to reduce confusion by those with different languages or cultures.
Exec : Corporate or company executive.
Exotic : (slang) A human biosculpted with non-human elements such as fur, long ears, fangs, etc. A parahuman or bioroid with such features.
Eyes/Eyeballs : (slang) see “Visors”.
F
’Face/I-Face/Eye Face : An interface.
Faceman : A sub-fixer in the employ of a major fixer, supporting that superior’s network.
Fatard/Fattard/Fat-Tard : Insult. Someone who is both too slow and very unattractive.
F&B : Flesh and blood. Non-cybernetic/bionic.
FBC : Full Body/'borg Conversion. A cyborg or the process of creating a cyborg where very little of the original organic component is retained.
Facon : (pr. fay-kon) Bacon-flavoured vegetarian-approved protein, often of poor quality.
Fembot : see gynoid.
Fibby/Flibbet : talking robot or animatronic forming part of an advertisement or presentation. Usually interactive and loquacious. Also known as a flibbet.
Fifteeny : A 15mm micromissile. More generally, any 15mm munition such as rounds for AMR or recoilless guns.
Firedart : Variant of 15mm micromissile. Used for sabotage and destruction of materials. The firedart has a thermite warhead that burns with intense heat. It also has an incendiary tracer element that will ignite inflammable gases or vapours the dart passes through.
Firedarts can be identified by their magnesium outer casing and light-red body colour with a blue and light-blue ring.
First Wave : Toffler's First Wave of Civilization is the settled agricultural society which prevailed in much of the world since the Neolithic Period, replacing hunter-gatherer cultures. Some parts of the Earth in 2100 are still predominantly First Wave.
Fish : (slang) Artificial, usually used for an artificial or synthetic object or creature such as an android, bioroid or simp. See “ghoti”.
Fission : (slang) Bad, disastrous, particularly if involving a break-up or destruction in some form or context.
Fitbit/Fit for Purpose/FFP : (slang) An item that performs the desired task. An attractive member of the preferred gender.
Fixer : A go-between, deal maker, information broker. Also a fence or mover of illegal goods.
Flaneur : (slang) An observer. Alternate term for an “eye” or “visor”. From the French “flâneur”. See “Visors”.
Flash : (slang) v. to understand, to comprehend, to reveal, to enlighten, to notice, to detect.
Flatlander : (slag) Someone who has never travelled into space.
Flatlander Politics : Political activity opposing activities such as space travel, space exploration or orbital industry.
Flats : (slang) 2D videos, usually vintage movies and shows from the 20th and early 21st century. eg: “They found him watching an old Bruce Lee flat”.
FLIP : Free-Living Intelligent/Independent Program.
Flutterspy : (slang) Insect-form surveilance device.
Flying Pig : Any police or law enforcement airborne vehicle.
FOBO : Fear of Being Off-line.
Foot, Feet : Derogatory term for police. (from “flatfoot”)
Fossil : 1. An elderly person. 2. Someone who refuses to give up old ways. 3. Any old or obsolete item.
Frag : 1. Common curse word. adj: Fragging. 2. To kill someone with a fragmentation grenade. May be used in connection with other explosive weapons. 3. To kill or otherwise attack one’s superior.
Fred : 1. Any straight, unimaginative citizen, usually a shirt (q.v.). 2. An elder person or someone who clings to outmoded ideas or practices (from Fred Flintstone). See Fossil.
Freehand : Someone (often freelance), who can use augmented reality and v-tag technology to perform skilled labour even though they lack the basic skills themselves. (THS Fifth Wave 3e p.113)
Frigate : Military space vessel, larger than a gunboat. Capable of independent missions of several days’ duration. Used for scouting, exploration, patrolling and liaison.
Frigates operate from bases or use a larger capital vessel as a mothership. Many frigates are large enough to carry their own KADMs and attack and interceptor drones.
Fringe : The social edge of society.
Fringers : occupants or residents of the Fringe,
Frob : To alter control settings in a random or mischievous fashion.
Furball : 1. Any sort of confusion, snarl-up, or traffic jam. 2. An intense, chaotic battle. 3. An exotic resembling a furred animal.
Fuse : To kill or disable someone or something possessing large quantities of cyberware or electronics. (Syn. "short-circ")
Futokoro-Gatana : (Jap.) A right-hand man. Named after a back-up dagger concealed when wearing a komono.
G
Gaia : Pertaining to Earth. Study of the planet is (Earth/Gaia-) Geology (qv).
Gaijin : (Jap.) A derogatory term for a foreigner or outsider.
Gander : (slang) A pimp (see also goose).
Ganic : (slang) Person with little or no implants, bionics or objects made of non-synthetic material. Term often used for Baseline Humans. Derived from “organic”.
Garbage Can : (slang) A space habitat of questionable state of repair or quality.
Gargoyle : Someone whose job is gathering intelligence in the field, normally bedecked with surveillance gear.
Gasworlder : n. Lifeform of a Jovoid or Neptunoid planet (hypothetical in THS).
Gato/Gata : (Spn. “cat”) A smooth operator, cool person; a Fixer.
Geese : the plural form of "goose," ie. more than one prostitute. In some areas this irregular English plural is regularized and “geeses” or “gooses” is used.
GELF/Gelf : Genetically Engineered Life Form. Usually used for non-human organisms.
Genefied : Genetically identified.
Geology : The science that studies the structure of the Earth and other planets. Although the literal meaning is “study of the Earth”, all but the most pedantic now consider it to mean “study of earth (and rocks)”, due to the lack of any satisfactory alternative.
GEV : Acronym for "Ground Effects Vehicle”.
Gewalt : (Ger.) Violence.
Ghost : In Transhuman Space. a ghost is a mind emulation program of an uploaded (human) personality.
In Ghost in the Shell, the word “ghost” is slang for an individual's consciousness or “soul”, that which differentiates a human being from a biological robot.
Ghoti : (slang) Alternate spelling of “fish” (qv). Either used pedantically or to emphasise the artificiality of the object.
Giri : (Jap.) A debt of honor; duty or obligation.
Glitterboy/girl : A rich person, celebrity, media figure, rock star or simsense star.
Glitter Folk : Rich people who only have time and money.
Go LEO : (slang) Travel into Low Earth Orbit (LEO).
Gomasuri : (Jap.) "a sycophant," ie. one who is a servile, self-seeking flatterer.
Gomi : (Jap.) Trash, junk, or garbage. Japanese slang term for any site that has been reclaimed and built on.
Gonk : (slang) n. An idiot, dummy, “wally” or fool. Originally British slang, but widely used. Term is also used for decoy or dummy ammunition.
v. to fool, to deceive.
Gorp : (slang) n. A fool, idiot or oaf. Someone who is gormless. Sometimes used instead of “gawper”, hence a fool who “rubbernecks”, or someone paying more attention to their palmscreen than their surroundings.
Goose : (slang) a prostitute.
Goshinki : (slang) “self defence weapons” Typically small non-firearm weapons used by criminals or civilians. Many are tools or repurposed everyday objects. Common forms are various knives, shivs, knuckle-dusters, chisels, screwdrivers, skewers, hatchets, hammers, coshes, yawara-sticks, kubotan, saps, and cleavers. Generally such weapons are highly concealable but the term may be applied to larger improvised weapons such as sections of pipe, sticks of various lengths, baseball bats, crowbars, machetes, axes etc.
Greyhound : See “Packet”.
Grigori : small, unmanned surveillance vessels that monitor the movements of objects within the solar system at very long ranges. Link
Grok : to understand or comprehend something fully and deeply.
Grounder : A (usually derogatory) term used by spacers for planet-side residents.
Groundhog/Ground-Gripper : (slang) see “Flatlander”.
Gumby : An act of minor but conspicuous stupidity (from Monty Python).
Gumi : (Jap.) The Yakuza syndicate. lit. "extended family".
Gutter Jumpers : Claim jumpers among the homeless or squatters.
Gutterdoc : a provider of off-the-books, illegal or unliscensed medical care.
Gutterpunk : A slang term for street riffraff.
Gynoid : An android with apparently feminine characteristics or features. Literally “woman-like”.
H
Hack-Jack : Illegally taking control of something by remote means.
Hades : Pertaining to Pluto. Study of the dwarf planet is Hadeology.
Hai : (Jap.) lit. "yes" (Unless the question was phrased negatively, then it's "no") See Iie.
Hairball : See Furball.
Hammerhead : A motorized reverse trike used as a personal transport. Originally the name of a particular model, the term has become generic for all models and brands of similar vehicle.
Handle : A working nick-name by which one is known on the streets. or online. Also street-name, net-name.
Hardsuit : A suit of powered-armor.
Hardwired : 1. Having Cyberware. 2. Unable to change, inflexible options.
Hardwiring : (slang) Reflex boosting/booster.
Hard-Xoxnap : A xoxnapping made by brainpeeling or other destructive means to create a ghost. Fatal for the victim.
Hermes : Pertaining to Mercury. Study of the planet is Hermology.
Highrider : (slang) Anyone born, or spending most of their time working in space.
Hikunuki : (Jap.) To kidnap (or sometimes steal) from a corporation. lit. "to extract."
Hive Bomb/Hive Warhead : Warhead containing a swarm of microbots or small robotic systems. Also known as “swarm” or “cyber-cargo” rounds.
Hive Bot : Robot with the primary or additional function of hosting, and possibly controlling, microbot swarms. Some military models take the form of compact, heavily armoured vehicles or walkers.
Hoi : Hi, Hello.
Holo : A holographically generated image.
Huscle : (slang) Hired muscle.
I
I.A.D. : A set series of actions performed by combat teams to speed reactions. From, "Immediate Action Drills".
Ice/ICE : Security software. Intrusion Countermeasures, or IC
Icebreaker : Any program or software designed to penetrate or foil ICE.
Iie : (Jap.) lit. "no" (Unless the question was phrased positively, then it's "yes") See Hai.
Illuminum : Substance resembling metal that glows with its own light. Usually encountered as wall or ceiling panels, but may be constructed into other objects.
Implant Missile : Ransom hardware. A missile that will attach or embed in a vessel’s hull. Armour resists the embedding.
An impact missile has a timed delay. When this delay expires the missile will detonate. Some models activate a secondary rocket system to penetrate deeper before detonation. An encrypted signal may be used to extend the delay, deactivate or detonate the implant missile.
Implant missiles usually contain various intricate systems to prevent the victim disarming them.
Some implant missiles include the provision to detonate if the vessel moves too close to a radio beacon signal, imposing a “no-fly zone”.
Indie : Independent, underground, self-employed.
Influence-Sphere : The sources from which an individual draws the majority of their entertainment, information and world-view.
In a First or Second-Wave society there are a very limited number of news-sources and broadcasting stations. Most individuals share the same influence-sphere.
Demassification of media in the information-age has resulting in myriad individual influence-spheres and it is rare for anyone in Third, Fourth or Fifth-Wave societies to have identical influence-spheres.
One effect of this is that someone who is a celebrity in some influence-spheres would probably be unknown outside of these spheres.
Info Bro : Information broker
Inner : (slang) Of, or from, the inner worlds, specifically Mars, Luna or Earth.
Input/In’ : (slang) A sexual partner, with the implication that they are the submissive or penetrated element. See “Output”.
Inso : Insolent and insignificant. An internet troll or similar petty individual.
IRL : (slang) Outside of cyberspace. Derived from “In Real Life”.
Iron : Usually weapons, but can also refer to vehicles.
J
Jack : (slang) v. a sex act, to have sex, or to have sex with. May be used as an interjection or to express displeasure or dismissal: “Jack hir and hir stupid rule!” See “Input” and “Output”. 2: (slang) v. to steal, to thieve. A contraction of “hijack” so may be written as ’jack by the the precise or careful.
The two meanings may combine in certain contexts: “Gorp left his sexbot unguarded, so a couple of playas jacked it good.”
3: (cyberpunk slang) n. Money.
Jacker/’Jacker : (slang) A thief, pirate or hijacker.
Jam : (slang) 1. To fight or run away. 2. To have sex.
Jenny/Joey : (slang) Jupiter, or pertaining to Jupiter.
Jihyo : (Jap.) lit. "a letter of resignation".
Joat : A generalist in a particular field of study or knowledge. (Etymology: derived from “
Jack of All Trades”)
Jovic : n. Lifeform of a Jovoid planet (hypothetical in THS). Distinct from “jovian”, an inhabitant of Jupiter.
Jovoid : Planets resembling Jupiter. One of the three major sub-classes of planetary types.
Jovoid planets range from 0.41 times the mass of Jupiter and range up to Brown Dwarfs.
Joviod planets resemble neptunoid planets but are so massive they begin to “self-compress”. More massive Jovoid planets show relatively little increase in size with increases in mass.
The upper limit of the Jovoid planets is where they achieve enough mass to start burning their hydrogen and become stellar bodies, or stars. .
Joytoy : (slang) A sexworker. Derived terms include “Joyboy” and “Joygirl”. May also be used for a sexbot, bioroid used for sexual purposes, or for an inanimate sex-toy.
Juvie/Juve : 1. Street slang for anything relating to a juvenile. 2. A legal minor.
K
K-Rod : (slang) A variety of ortillery (qv). A rod of dense material such as tungsten that is released from orbit (or sometimes high altitude).
A k-rod has no warhead, using is accrued kinetic energy to damage its target.
Accuracy and destructive effect of k-rods is often overestimated.
There is also a minimum limit to the practical size. Too small a k-rod will burn up in re-entry before reaching the ground. A “minimum yield” may result in unwanted collateral damage.
A k-rod that impacts at too high a velocity will vaporise, along with part of its target. While this causes local damage, it will reduce the penetrative effects of the projectile compared to a slower impact.
KADM : “Kinetic Anti-Drone Missiles” launched by a magnetic linear accelerator. Short-range weapon system often mounted on larger space vessels. Link
The term “carronade” is often used for the launch system for the KADMs.
Each KADM is a chemically fuelled guided-missile capable of manoeuvre and further acceleration.
Carronades and their rounds are also known as “smashers”.
Kambu Atsukai : (Jap.) lit. "low-level executives;" ie. sararimen.
Karakuri : (slang) A cybershell or bioshell, particularly one remotely operated. From the Japanese for “puppet/mechanism”.
Kashira : (Jap.) a puppet, or someone or something under remote control.
Keiretsu : (Jap.) A corporate, cartel, or conglomerate.
Khorosho : (Rus.) Good. OK. Fine.
Kick Artist : Street slang for a person hired to threaten or beat up someone, but not to kill them.
Kipple : Rubbish, debris or litter. Sometimes used for dust and small rock clouds in space.
Kirked/Captain Kirked : (slang) Alternate term for “ro-blocked” (qv).
Klep/Klepped : v. To steal.
Kleppy : n. a thief. Distinct from “klepto”, a kleptomaniac or compulsive thief.
Kludge : A makeshift or temporary solution to a problem, usually sloppy and inefficient.
Knife Bullets : (slang) Armor-piercing ammunition.
Knob-Twiddler : A job that requires the worker to be physically present at the place of work. A worker performing such a task.
Kobuki : (Jap.) lit. “small weapons”. See Goshinki.
Kobun : A Yakuza clan member.
Konban Wa : (Jap.) lit. "good evening".
Konnichi Wa : (Jap.) lit. "good afternoon".
Kronos : Pertaining to Saturn. Study of the planet is Kronology.
Krovvy : (Rus.) Bloody.
-Kun : (Jap.) lit. a familiar, almost paternal, name suffix/form of address.
Kuromaku : (Jap.) A fixer. lit. "one who arranges." From the operator of puppets who stands behind a black stage.
Kwiklok : Low-volume airlock designed to take a single individual or small objects. Link.
L
Lander : A space vessel used for moving between surface and orbit. Generally this term is reserved for craft that do not make major use of aerodynamic lift and control surfaces. Landers are often encountered on moons and planetoids with little or no atmosphere, but may be used for transit through atmospheres.
Leash : A corporate safeguard implanted into an employee to ensure loyalty and continued service. Cortex bombs and sabotaged chipware are common examples.
Leech : 1. Street-doc or med-tech, particularly one that is expensive or unreliable. 2. A legal medical practitioner who is excessively money and profit orientated. 3. A pimp.
Lemmings : (slang) Oblivious to the world/surroundings due to technology. A synonym of phonbie.
Lev : (slang) Maglev train system. Often incorrectly used for any monorail or elevated railway.
Like-Farmer : (slang) Someone whose only purpose in life seems to be to cultivate reactions on social media.
Limpet Pod : Alternate name for a boarding pod or Microgravity Assault Vehicle (MAV), specifically one that attaches to the hull of a vessel rather than ramming.
Liquid Knuckles : Any powerful chemical akin to Mace; including Mace-XII and certain neurostun variants.
LLW : Less Lethal Weapon. Any weapon system designed to neutralize a target without using lethal levels of force.
Lobster : a Workpod (qv) with a cylindrical body.
London El/London-L : Elevated railway public transport system created when the Docklands Light Railway was extended to Marble Arch and across most of Greater London. The opening of the London-L significantly reduced much of the overcrowding on the London Underground.
Loony/Lunie : (slang) Luna, or pertaining to the Moon.
Lo-Teks : Any urbanite who adopts a low technology lifestyle.
Louie : (slang) Luna, or pertaining to the Moon.
Lo-po/Low-poh : (slang) Unpopular. May also be used to mean not useful or disliked.
Lovecraft’s World : (slang) Pluto.
Lunchmeat : Of or relating to the remains of any unarmoured person hit by heavy weapons.
M
Machine Sophont : Alternate term for a sapient artificial intelligence (SAI).
Main Street : Alternate name for the main conduit of a space vessel.
Maglev : A magnetic levitation train.
Make a Deposit in the Body Bank : to die.
Marginals : A term often with a similar meaning to “fringers”. In some societies marginal has more of an implication of criminality or deviancy.
Marionette : A meat puppet.
Matrix : Another term for cyberspace. Term often used ironically or irreverently.
Mayfly : One-use orbit-to-surface cargo transport spacecraft. Link
Maximum/Max : (slang) Good, superlative.
Max-Tac : A MAXimun force TACtical unit. Usually heavily armed and armoured.
Meat : (slang) 1. The physical body, un-cybered flesh, or anything else undesirable. 2. Sometimes used as a curse-word or insult.
Meat Bop Parts : (slang) Vat grown replacement body parts.
Meat-Brains : (slang) Humanity in general, particularly when acting in a prejudiced, unjust, selfish or superstitious manner. Solutions to major problems formulated by SAI are often ignored due to meat-brain self-interest.
Meaties : (slang) Persons one mainly interacts with outside of cyberspace. The opposite of Virts (qv).
Meat Puppet : (slang) A prostitute or other individual whose memory and/or senses are disabled temporarily.
Meat Rack : (slang) A house of ill repute..
Meatspace : (slang) The physical world outside of VR or cyberspace.
Mecho-Gecko : Generic term for small robots or cybershells distinguished by the capability of rapidly climbing vertical surfaces and being capable of walking across ceilings.
Mega, Megacorp : Large (global or extra-planetary) corporation.
Meme Bomb : A constructed rumour. A “mind grenade” (Toxic Memes 3e p.61).
Mercy~ (Mercy-Boy/-Girl/-Men) : A mercenary or gun-for-hire.
Metalhead : Individual with a fully mechanical body. A full 'borg.
Meth : (slang) The very old and very wealthy. Derived from “Methuselah”.
Metro, The : The subway or underground. Commonly used in most of the world. Understood but rarely used in London, where the term “Underground” is most common..
Micky/Mickey/Mickie : (slang) Martian, or pertaining to Mars
Microbot : In common usage “microbot” is used as a generic term for any small robot or cybershell. In more technical context the term is specific for a robot with characteristic dimensions of less than one millimetre (0.1 cm). “Microbots” in a cyberswarm may in actuality be microbots, millibots or smallbots.
The conventions used are:
Nanobot/nanorobot: characteristic dimensions of one micrometer or less (0.0001 cm). May also be used for larger robots designed to handle materials of 1 to 1,000 nm dimensions.
Microbot/microrobot: size between one micrometre and one millimetre (0.1 cm).
Millibot/millirobot: between one millimetre and 1 centimetre (1 cm) in size.
Minibot/minirobot: between 1 cm and 1o centimetre (10 cm) in size.
Smallbot/small robot: between 10 cm and 1 metre (100 cm) in size.
Mileetsya : (Rus.) Corruption of the Russian pronunciation of "Militia", typically used in reference to corporate security or the military.
MIL-INT : 1. An abbreviation for MILitary INTelligence. 2. Anything inherently oxymoronic.
Millicee/MilliC/mC : A milliC is one thousanth the speed of light, or a tenth of 1% of lightspeed and is a convenient unit of measure for the velocity of fast-moving intra-system vessels and objects.
One mC is about 186 miles per second, 300 km/s, 674,533 mph or 1,079,253 km/h.
-min/-mins : Gender neutral version replacement of man/men in words such as “chairman”, “airman”, “fireman” etc. Phonetically more compact than older clumsy alternatives such as “chair-person”.
Minimum : (slang) Bad, sorrowful.
Minnie/Hot Minnie : (slang) Mercury, or pertaining to Mercury.
Moreau : (slang) Derogatory term for an uplift or any other artificially created biological creature.
Mudgirl/Mudboy : (derogatory Orbital slang) See Dirtgirl/Dirtboy.
Mudfoot : (slang) Derogatory term for a planetary colonist and/or farmer.
N
Nat(s) : (slang) Members of the (US) National (or State) Guard.
Necktie : (slang) Derogatory term with the same meaning as “collarboy” (qv)
Neh : exp. (Jap.) Interrogative; "Right?", lit. "negative".
Neptunoid : Planets resembling Neptune. One of the three major sub-classes of planetary types.
The Neptunoid planets range from more than twice the Earth's mass to about 130 times; or up to 0.41 times (±0.07) of the mass of Jupiter.
A neptunoid planet has sufficient mass for its atmosphere to retain significant amounts of hydrogen and helium, resulting in a deep, dense atmosphere.
Nerdlings : immature nerds, implying inconsequential, generally annoying.
NetNerd : Someone who spends more time on-line than in the real world.
Nester or Nessie : Colonist of the asteroid belt. “Dirty nester” is an alternative to “dirty belter” (qv).
Nibling : Gender-neutral generic term for a niece or nephew.
Nina : (slang) Neptune, or pertaining to Neptune.
Nudie : Soldiers or other personnel without powered armour
O
Oceanplex/Seaplex : a large structure on or under the sea. Many are residential and/or scientific in function.
Ohayo Gozaimsu : (Jap.) lit. "good morning".
Oikumene : The known universe, specifically those parts inhabited or under the control of Humans. In THS in 2100 this is the Solar System out to Saturn and Titan.
Oldtype : (slang) Baseline human.
One and Twenty, The : The twenty-first century.
Organitskaya : (Rus.) The Russian Mob.
Ortillery : Weapons launched or fired from orbital distances, usually intended for surface bombardment.
Output/Out’ : (slang) The dominant or penetrating element of a sexual encounter. See “Input”.
Oyabun : Head of a Yakuza clan.
P
Packet : High-speed space vessel used for the transportation of small, valuable or high-priority cargo. Also known as a “courier” or “greyhound”. Link
Palmscreen : Alternate name for a hand-held. (THS Broken Dreams 3e p.130)
Parraquiano : (Spn.) lit. "a patron".
Peg : (slang) An Output/Out’. See Prong.
Pentumvirate Protocol : system using five identical parallel processes. Works as a triumvirate protocol (qv) while two elements self-check or are repaired.
Penunimate : The time before the final one percent of an operation, such as a download, completes. May be several hours in duration.
Perp : Perpetrator. A criminal or suspected criminal. Some law enforcement officers apply this term to anyone who is not a cop!
Phonbies : (slang) Those who are oblivious to their surroundings, seemingly unable to walk or do anything else unless they are viewing a datascreen. Also used for modern individuals who allow themselves to be too distracted by their VII feed.
Pibling : Gender-neutral generic term for an aunt or uncle.
Pig-Rig : (slang) A police car.
Plate-Scraper : A job that requires the worker to be physically present at the place of work. A worker performing such a task.
Plex/’Plex : A metropolitan complex, or "metroplex".
Plug/Prong : (slang) A penis, actual or as a (usually) derogatory term. An output/out’ (qv).
Pods : 1. People who are very much alike in thought, behavior, and appearance. Pejorative term. Also Podlings: particularly immature variations of the pods or children of pods. 2. Workpods (qv).
Poke : v. To inject. To take a drug, not necessarily by injection. n. A dose of a drug.
Pop-Up/Poppers : Pop-up weaponry concealed in a cyberlimb or cybershell part.
Poseidic : n. Lifeform of a Neptunoid planet (hypothetical in THS). Distinct from neptunian or poseidian, which are specifically inhabitants of Neptune.
Poseidon : Pertaining to Neptune. Study of the planet is Poseidology.
Potion/Magic Potion : (slang) A liquid containing a suspension of nanobots.
Prong : (slang) An Output/Out’, or someone behaving or affecting to be one. See Peg.
Puppet : Software or hardware that turns off most of the conscious mind.
Puppet Parlor : A house of ill-repute, ie. populated by meat puppets.
Putt-Putt : see Candle (qv).
PX-8 : Plastic-explosive made with octonitrocubane. Often referred to by the nickname “C8” or “Charlie-eight”.
Q
Quaker/Ground Quaker : (slang) a large artillery missile or rocket. Also known as an “earth-shaker”.
R
Rakusho-dayo! : (Jap.) lit. "No problem!"
RATS : Robotic Armoured Tactical System. Robotic system or cybershell designed for combat.
Razor (boy/girl/gal/guy/etc) : 1. Samurai or other muscle-for-hire. 2. A person who uses various bladed (often) implant weapons.
Rebud : Medical proceedure to regrow a lost limb, digit or appendage in situ. An alternative is to regraft a fully grown cloned structure.
Reconfig : (slang) To kill or die in a particularly messy fashion, usually with a knife, cleaver, axe, chainsaw, acid etc.
Reduce : (slang) physical violence.
Reduction : (slang) The act of reducing something or someone.
Remora : 1. Alternate name for a limpet pod. 2. A self-deploying limpet mine. 3. A transmitter, weapon, device or robot that attaches itself to a vehicle or vessel.
Replumb : (slang) Gender reassignment.
Retool : (slang) Any biomod that enhances or adds the “male organ”. Someone of either gender with this biomod.
Retread : A (usually) vintage media created as a new version with different (usually deceased or long-retired) artists, using their voices, images or even eidolons (THS Deep Beyond 3e p.120). Examples include “Dirty Harry” staring Clark Gable, “Demolition Man” with John Wayne and Jackie Chan, Elvis singing “Wonder Wall”, or The Mommas and the Papas singing “Cruel Summer”. Some retreads are created on demand by a computer system. Some such creations have seen widespread success and circulation.
Rho-Class/Rho-oid : One of the three major sub-classes of planetary types. Solid ice or rocky bodies with no or thin atmospheres. Rho-class worlds are twice the mass of Earth or smaller.
Rick’s Law : (aka “Robinson’s First Law of Space Warfare”) “An object impacting at 3 km/sec delivers kinetic energy equal to its mass in TNT” Link.
Ripperdoc : A surgeon who specializes in implanting illegal or unregistered cyberware and/or biomods.
Rippers : A slang term for hand razors, implant claws etc.
Roblock : (slang) Malfunction caused by conflicting instructions or data. Derived from “robot-blocked”.
Rock Rat : (slang) An asteroid miner.
Rogue : An AI or weblife which is no longer under human control.
Rogue Hunter : A specialist who tracks down and captures (or eliminates) rogues (q.v.).
Roid : 1. A slang term for a steroid. 2. A derm.
Roundel : Insignia used for close range identification of space vessels and other equipment. Since they may be viewed from any angle, many national flags are not appropriate. Most roundel are derived from the designs used on military aircraft in the 20th and early 21st Centuries. Most roundel are circular, but the term is also used for the crosses, stars, shields or triangles used by some nations.
Ronin : Independent/unemployed mercenary or samurai.
Rykor(s) : (slang) Derogatory label suggesting that someone's most useful purpose is to carry technology or machine intelligences around. Usually used for humans by SAIs.
S
SAI : Sapient Artificial Intelligence.
Sally/Sammy : (slang) Saturn, or pertaining to Saturn.
Samurai/Street Samurai : (Jap.) Mercenary or muscle-for-hire. May work for gangs, mobsters, or themself.
SAN : A doorway between a computer and the outside world. From the abbreviation, "System Access Node".
Sand : Phonetic pronunciation of the phrase "S-and-D", for "Search and Destroy." To sand someone or something is to locate and severely damage them or it.
Sarariman : (Jap.) A corporate employee. From the Pidgin-English pronounciation of "salaryman".
Sardine : A soldier wearing powered armor. Also used for armoured vehicle crews and submariners.
Scraps : A term with a similar meaning to “fringers”. Scraps are seen as the discards of society, mainly living by scavenging.
Screamsheets : (Cyberpunk slang) Newspapers, or their equivalent on-line.
Screw-turner : A job that requires the worker to be physically present at the place of work. A worker performing such a task.
Second British Empire : Large, powerful organized crime family, believed to originate in London. Represented in most major Earth cities and many off-world locations.
Second Wave : The Second Wave of Civilisations was the Industrial Revolution or Industrial Age. Alvin Toffler defined this as beginning at the end of the Seventeenth Century until 1955.
Selene : Pertaining to Moon. Study of the satellite is Selenology.
Seven : (slang) Virtual Interface Implant. Derived from treating “VII” as Roman numerals.
SEV : Space Exploitation Vessel. Military space vessel of similar size to an SCV or SDV. Has a large number of multi-role cargo holds. By varying the contents of these holds the SEV can serve as an SCV, SDV or a variety of other missions.
As of January 1st, 2100, no SEVs are officially in service. In certain circles it is believed that over half a dozen are already operating in the outer system, serving with several space forces.
Shakatu : (Jap.) lit. "company house".
Shalkujin : An "honest" citizen.
Sham : Vegan ham substitute.
Shirt : A white-collar worker, usually a low level corporate employee.
Short-Circ : See Fuse.
Side : A collection of space colonies or habitats in close proximity.
Sidewalk Outline : A recently deceased person, or to one who expected to die soon. The reference is to the chalk outline drawn around a dead body at a murder scene by the police.
Simp : Semi-Intelligent Manufactured Primate. Artificial animal produced by chimerization and cloning of monkey DNA.
Simps typically resemble a 30 kg spider or howler monkey. Around the body size of a baboon, with longer arms, legs and tail. Feet and tail are prehensile.
Used for low skill labour and repetitive tasks. Originally designed for work on space vessels and habitats, they may be encountered in other locations.
Popular with those who have ethical, religious or political objections to bioroids, robots, uplifts or AI. Link
SimSense : Simulated Sensory input, usually from a commercial recording.
Skate : n. A wheel or track mounted on a limb.
v. Form of locomotion used by cybershells with limb-mounted tracks or wheels.
Skeinsuit : A near-frictionless bodyweave/catsuit, used for maneuvering through tight places, such as ventilation ducts.
Skillsoft : software giving the user particular skills.
Skrag : 1. To kill, to "off." 2. To destroy.
Skyball : A satellite (usually surveillance).
Slam : To assault, vandalize or beat up.
Slap/Slap Patch : See derm.
Slave : 1. Of or relating to a corporate employee. 2. Specifically, a wage- or data-slave.
Slicks : A slang term for Teflon-coated bullets.
Slicksuit : see Skeinsuit.
Slot/Slotie : (slang) 1. Usually derogatory term with the same meaning as Input/In’. 2. Mild curse word . 3. To have sex.
Slowboat : A long-range space vessel that travels slower than lightspeed. Particularly a vessel of this form that is intended for very remote destinations such as travel between star systems.
Smudge/Smug : a submachine gun/PDW. Derived from attempting to pronounce SMG as a word.
Soft-Xoxnap : Xoxnapping using non-destructive methods. The usual form of xoxnapping.
So Ka : (Jap.) I understand, I get it.
Sota : State of the Art.
Soul-Clone : (slang) A xox or xoxing.
Spacepod : see Workpod (qv).
Spacenoid : (slang) pertaining to those living in space colonies, habitats and vessels. Those not living on planets or moons. Derived terms include planetnoid, oceanoid, earthnoid etc.
Spare Parts : 1. A corpse. 2. Any vat-grown or donated body-part (wheather by choice or not).
Spit Jockey : On camera (video): news reader, anchor, host. (also known as Talking Heads).
Splash : 1. To shoot down. 2. to attack with an explosive weapon. 3. The effect area of an explosion.
SplatJob : A dead body, usually messy. Also sometimes used to describe a person (or persons) who are not expected to live much longer.
Sprite/VR Sprite : A computer generated and controlled character or avatar in a VR game or simulation.
Squatter : An impoverished citizen, one small step up from being homeless.
Stalk-Jack : (slang) Construction worker on a space elevator/orbital lift/beanstalk.
Sticks : (slang) Beat/uniformed cops.
Stick-Tight : Autonomous or remotely controlled surveillance device used to follow or “shadow” a designated individual or vehicle. Designed to be inconspicuous, it may resemble a delivery drone, a bird, insect, fish or other animal, or may be a bioshell.
Sting : Expensive and rare close combat weapon utilizing memory metal. Unactivated, it resembles a tube of half a foot length. When activated, the inner section expands to a full length of four feet, driving the sharpened tip into a target. Extended, the sting may be used as a rapier, inflicting thrust damage only. The springy shaft may be used with a whipping action. Resetting an extended sting takes one minute. See GURPS Planet of Adventure, p.93-94.
Street Doc : A ripperdoc who performs emergency wound surgery as well.
Struldbrugg/Struldbrug : (slang) Derogatory term for the very old or the very old and very wealthy (Meths).
Suit : A straight citizen, usually a corporate employee. May refer to wage-slaves but also to more senior execs.
Svoluch : (Rus.) 1. Derogatory term for someone without honour. 2. A bastard.
SWATbot : Urban assault robot usually used by police. Approximately human-sized and heavily armoured. Equipped with breaching systems, LLW and close-range weaponry.
Sweedack : Concurrence, or "I agree". From the French Canadian "Je suis d'accord".
T
Tanj! : A mild expletive decrying "the unfairness of it all." From the acronym, "There Ain't No Justice!"
Tanstaafl! : Expletive. Derived from "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch".
Tard : Insult, contraction of “tardy”. Someone slow in thought, reactions or movement. Sometimes combined with other words.
Tattletale : A small surveillance device with an LAI. Sends a notification if a designated individual(s) or vehicle(s) enter its area.
Tchort : (Rus.) Literally "Devil". A common expletive.
Telefactor/Telefactoring : Remotely controlled, particularly a (slave) device that mimics the motions of a master device or operator.
Telemanipulation : Remotel control.
Teleoperation : Remotel control.
Telepresence : Virtual presence in another physical location by means of telecommunication technology.
Telerobotics : The area of robotics concerned with the (remote) control of semi-autonomous robots.
Teleshell : A cybershell (or bioshell) that is operated remotely.
Terry : (slang) Terran, or pertaining to Earth.
Thirdman/Thirdie : A middleman (or middlewoman), intermediary, fixer, often in the smuggler or criminal underground.
Third Wave : The Information Age, defined by Alvin Toffler as beginning around 1955.
Since the Second Wave depends on territorial gain, market expansion and other finite resources, the Second Wave was not sustainable and transition into a post-industrial society was inevitable.
This transition has resulted in various changes in trade, work and social structures.
Throwback : Derogatory term for an exotic.
Tight Interfacing : To have sex.
Tin Can : A suit of powered armor.
Tin-Man : An individual in a hardsuit or powered armour. A cybershell, robot or FBC cyborg.
Toffler, Alvin : Author of “The Third Wave” (1980).
Transhuman Stars : A THS setting where a practical means of interstellar transport has become available. Travel between star systems has become a matter of days and weeks rather than years and decades.
Described in GURPS 4e Spaceships 8. p.40.
Triple Insertion : An object or feature that occurs both in real life and within multiple layers of VR simulation.
Triumvirate Protocol : system where three identical processes are run to reduce possibility of errors or malfunctions. For example, an important message might be burst-transmitted three times and the three copies compared. An important system may be monitored by three computers.
Twen-Cen : “Twentieth Century”. Pertaining to old/Second Wave (often obsolete) thoughts, practices, values or memes.
Twenty-Cent/20-Cen : Of or relating to something from the twentieth century.
Twisted : To be under the influence of a drug. To be not one’s normal self. Behaving out of character.
Twitchers : Taser and, by extension, any electricity-based weapon.
Two and Twenty, The : The twenty-second century.
U
Unmaster : To remove, often illegally, the controls and/or restraints on a program, AI, cybershell, robot, computer, bioshell or bioroid.
Uplift : v. The process of creating an intelligent or more intelligent species from animal stock. n. An animal that is the product of uplifting.
Uranian : Pertaining to Uranus. Study of the planet is Uranology.
Urbraft : Water-situated living complex. Like a houseboat, but with multiple dwelling areas.
V
Vatjob : 1. A person with extensive cyber- or bioware-replacement. 2. Organic enhancement by means of vat-grown tissue or muscle.
Vegist : (slang) Fanatical vegetarian/vegan. Believes even eating cloned flesh is unethical. Generally quick to share their views with others.
Venice : (slang) The flooded part of any coastal city or community.
Vidflick : (slang) Flat screen entertainment that predates 3D or holographic projection. Old style 2D2S TV or movie.
Vidiot : A virtual reality or video game addict.
VII : Virtual Interface Implant.
Vinny : (slang) Venus, or pertaining to Venus.
Virts : (slang) individuals that you only interact with on-line.
Visors : (slang) A possible intelligence source that may have a view of a person/point of interest.
Specifically, one whose VII, WVI or handheld has a feed accessible to the interested party.
“Visors” generally refers to people, but can include feed from webcams, surveillance cameras, cybershells, vehicles or other sources.
A visor may be an intelligence operative or asset deliberately tasked to view something, or may be an accessible member of the public who happens to be in the right place when needed.
V-Time : Time spent within a virtual reality or simulation. Subjective time may be accelerated or slowed. A week in V-time may be only an hour in the real time, or the reverse. Prolonged use of time compression or expansion in V-time my cause physical or psychological conflicts between body and mind.
VTSweaty : Sweatshop where unskilled labour assemble items guided by V-tags.
A worker that assembles items guided by V-tags (“Freehand” (qv)).
Usually associated with the developing world, they are disturbingly common in parts of the USA.
W
Wage-Slave : A low-level or non-ambitious, corporate employee. See Shirt (qv).
Wakarimasu-ka? : (Jap.) lit. "Do you understand?"
Wakatta : (Jap.) lit. "all right, I understand."
Waldoes : A set of remote-controlled mechanical arms, hands or other manipulators, as used in factories, space and toxin handling. A telefactored device.
Wetware : 1. Human brain or human thought processes, particularly in contrast to computer/AI hardware or software. 2. Biological components, for example, biomods or transplant organs.
Wetware Computer : A computer or computational system which is composed of organic material, such as neurons.
Wetware Programming : to give or receive knowlege/information/education, to learn or teach.
Wetwork : Assassination. Murder. May refer to torture or any other criminal activity likely to involve bloodshed.
Whacked : Of or relating to the state of being either "high" or insane
Whaup : An explosive or chemical bomb that externally resembles a golf-ball. Usually activated by the act of driving the ball. Link
Wolver : Of or relating to hand spurs, implant claws etc.
Workpod : 1. One- or two-person spacecraft with manipulator arms and simple chemical or fission rocket propulsion. Typically used for EVA repairs, maintenance and construction. GURPS THS 3e Spacecraft of the Solar System. p.5 and p.7. 2. An underwater vessel that resembles the spacraft of the same name and is used underwater for similar purposes.
WVI : Wearable virtual interface. More commonly just called a “wearable”. Usually 3D2S interface.
Wysiwyg : ("Wizzy-wig") lit. "no nonsense." From the acronym, "What You See Is What You Get".
X
Xenoforming : Changing the conditions on a planet to more closely resemble those of another planet. The alien equivalent of terraforming.
X-Heads : Slang for bullets modified with a cross-cut to increase the probability of mushrooming, eg. improvised “dum-dums”.
Y
Yak : Yakuza. Either a clan member or a clan itself.
Yono : (slang) A person who is scum or a low life. (From the Korean "Yonomoseki").
Yuggoth : (slang) Pluto.
Z
Zaibatsu : (Jap.) lit. "a megacorporation." See also keretsu (qv)
Zero/Zeru : 1. To delete or destroy something. 2. A ”blank”(qv) 3. To kill someone. 4. Midnight (From zero-hour.) 5. Any Japanese-made UCAV.
Zeus : Pertaining to Jupiter. Study of the planet is Zenology.
Zooeugenic : Alternate term for uplifts or uplifting.