December 10, 2001

New Words and Phrases-1958



New words and phrases applying to hundreds of different fields found their places in American speech in 1958.

Scientists and technologists produced such words as bioastronautics, phonocardiograph, and traxle. The American scene also gave rise to the beat generation, whose members popularized several terms previously restricted to the world of jazz. Other new words, including Nasserism and sand curtain, reflected global events.

Here is a selection of some of the many vocabulary newcomers:

Beat Generation, Young people whose chief idea is to "live it up" while remaining "cool." Members of the beat generation express their dissatisfaction with materialistic values by unconventional behavior and attitudes, the avoidance of responsibility, and studying uncommon philosophies.

Beatnik, a member of the beat generation.

Beeper, A signaling device attached to a wire being tapped.

Bioastronautics, The study of the demands of space travel on human beings, and of the ways of meeting those demands.

Blast-Off, The launching of a rocket.

Boatel, A motel built over the water, where people can moor their boats during the night.

Hula Hoop, A plastic hoop in any of several sizes which a person keeps in circular movement around his or her body by a motion simiar to that of a hula dancer.

Megacorpse, A million dead persons, such as could result from nuclear warfare.

Nasserism, The policy of Arab nationalism and independence proclaimed by President Gamal A. Nasser of the United Arab Republic.

Nighter, A baseball game played at night.

Orbit, A determinable circular, or elliptical, course. An artificial satellite is in orbit when it moves around the earth, the sun, or the moon.

Parkette, A female parking attendant.

Roadomania, A craze for fast driving.

Sand Curtain, Restrictions surrounding visitors to Saudi Arabia.

Slumlord, An owner of an apartment building that is unfit for human habitation.

Space Mail, To mail (a letter) into space.

Sub-Kiloton, An explosive with less power than 1000 tons of TNT.

T, Firing time. "T minus eight minutes" is eight minutes before firing time.

Thermonuke, A thermonuclear weapon.

Traxle, An automobile design in which the transmission is in the rear instead of against the engine.

more fascinatum

Vol. 2

12/25-The Beautiful Season
12/23-Deephermentation
12/21-Prairie School
12/18-A. Danilova
12/15-Carole & Wally
12/13-Sleep Patterns
12/11-Great Offers
12/10-New Words and Phrases-1958
12/7-Who are they?
12/5-VFW Magazines
12/2-The Mississippi

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