Full record for nova bomb n.

Definition	an extremely powerful nuclear bomb
OED requirements	antedating 1953
Earliest cite	Robert A. Heinlein, Gulf
Comment	Enoch Forrester submitted a cite from a 1987 reprint of Robert Heinlein's "Starship Troopers"; we would like to check the 1959 first edition. Enoch Forrester submitted a cite from Joe Haldeman's "The Forever War"; Mike Christie verified it in the 1975 first magazine appearance. John Groth submitted a cite from a 2000 reprint of Robert Heinlein's "Gulf" in "Assignment in Eternity". Mike Christie checked the 1949 magazine version and the phrase "nova bomb" is not used there; however Rick Hauptmann verified the cite in the 1953 first book edition. Edward Bornstein submitted a 1975 cite from "Voyage to a Forgotten Sun" by Donald J. Pfeil In addition to any antedatings, we would like cites of any date from other authors.
Last modified	15 July, 2009

Citations for nova bomb n.

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1953 R. A. Heinlein Gulf in Assignment in Eternity 80	Unless it is switched off any attempt to enter the building in which the arming circuit is housed will also trigger the ‘Nova’ bomb circuit.
1959 R. A. Heinlein Starship Troopers (1987) 107	We didn't have nova bombs at that time; we couldn't crack Klendathu open.
1975 D.J. Pfeil Voyage to Forgotten Sun 17	Out of the laboratories of the home world came a bomb capable of exploding a sun! A nova bomb, that could erase every trace of life from a system and leave it completely uninhabitable.