Full record for groundcar n.

Definition a car incapable of flight (in contrast with 'aircar')
OED requirements antedating 1937
Earliest cite E.E. Smith, "Galactic Patrol"
Comment Enoch Forrester submitted a cite from Isaac Asimov's "Evidence", which Mike Christie verified in the original 1946 magazine appearance. Enoch Forrester submitted a cite from a reprint of Isaac Asimov's "Foundation and Empire"; Mike Christie verified the cite in the original 1945 magazine appearance. Enoch Forrester submitted a cite from E. E. Smith's "Gray Lensman" which Mike Christie verified in the original 1940 magazine appearance. Enoch Forrester submitted a cite from a 1981 reprint of Larry Niven's "Ringworld"; Treesong verified the cite in the 1970 first edition. Dan Tilque submitted a 1991 cite from Lois McMaster Bujold's "Barrayar".

Dan Tilque submitted a cite from a reprint of E.E. Smith's "Galactic Patrol"; Mike Christie verified the cite in the 1937 first magazine appearance. Michael Dolbear submitted a cite from a 1988 reprint of Lois McMaster Bujold's "Shards of Honour". Enoch Forrester submitted a 1958 cite from Horace Gold. Mike Christie submitted a 1970 cite from Frank Herbert's "Whipping Star". Katrina Campbell submitted a cite from a 1991 reprint of Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Moon's 1990 "Sassinak""; Michael Dolbear subsequently verified the cite in the 1990 first edition.
Last modified 6 July, 2008

Citations for groundcar n.

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1951 I. Asimov Foundation Trilogy—Foundation iii.i. 80 They've come‥in a last-model ground car, the young pups.
1970 F. Herbert in Worlds of If Sci. Fiction Jan. 16/1 ‘Why didn't you bring us by aircar?’‘People here on Cordiality are used to seeing me in a groundcar unless I'm on official business and require speed.’
1970 A. McCaffrey Ship who Sang (1991) iii. 54 A ground car zipped out from the direction of the massive Control and Barracks complex.
1982 I. Asimov Foundation's Edge (1991) 221 There were other ground-cars moving in both directions and an occasional air-car above, but Pelorat was studying the trees.
1984 R. Silverberg Waiting for Earthquake in R. Silverberg Conglomeroid Cocktail Party (1984) 207 A few groundcars were parked at the airstrip.
1990 A. McCaffrey & E. Moon Sassinak (1991) 149 Trailing a ship through FTL space was, Sassinak thought, like following a groundcar through thick forest at night without using headlights.