phaser n.
in the fictional universe of the Star Trek franchise: a (usu. hand-held) weapon incorporating an energy beam whose phase can be altered to create different effects (such as stunning, disintegration, etc.) on the target
Originally from Star Trek. The 1953 Heinlein quote shows an unrelated sense, a device that adjusts the phase of a force field.
Memory Alpha
Star Trek
Weaponry
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[1953
Robert A. Heinlein
They were a little slow synchronizing the field…or else this bucket of bolts has an unbalanced phaser. ]
Starman Jones 67
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1966
Gene Roddenberry
bibliography
Reference the mating of various components of the phaser weapons…when the hand phaser is mated to the pistol, they should appear as one weapon.
Memo 26 Apr. in S. E. Whitfield & G. Roddenberry Making of ‘Star Trek’ (1968) i. 272
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1968
Robert Hamner
Gene L. Coon
In view of the warning, they all carried number-one phasers, in addition to a tricorder.
Taste of Armageddon in J. Blish Star Trek 213
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1968
bibliography
The hand phasers’ variety of power settings include a wide range of choices that permit the phaser to be used as a cutting torch, welding device, and similar hand tool needs.
in S. E. Whitfield & G. Roddenberry Making of ‘Star Trek’ ii. 193
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1968
bibliography
The hand-carried weapons, called ‘phasers’, are pure energy weapons (as are all offensive weapons in the ship’s arsenal).
in S. E. Whitfield & G. Roddenberry Making of ‘Star Trek’ ii. 193
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1968
bibliography
The ship’s phaser banks are located on the underside of the saucer-shaped hull.
in S. E. Whitfield & G. Roddenberry Making of ‘Star Trek’ ii. 190
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1968
bibliography
A number of early changes were simply an effort to keep Star Trek’s technology ahead of present-day scientific developments. This was the reason Gene reversed himself on an earlier decision in the ‘planning’ stage and discarded the term ‘Laser’, substituting the term ‘Phaser’.
in S. E. Whitfield & G. Roddenberry Making of ‘Star Trek’ i. 166
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1968
He would have traded the whole wealth of them for a hand phaser.
Arena in J. Blish Star Trek 2 (1968) 7
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1972
James Blish
Phasers on stun.
Star Trek 8 8
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1974
James Blish
His hand went fast to the phaser at his belt.
Star Trek 10 81
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1978
Gordon Eklund
I…discovered that the ship’s phasers were no longer functional.
Starless World vii. 30
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1984
Diane Duane
bibliography
He and Giellun…had finally succeeded in attaching those stealthily-acquired Klingon gunnery augmentation circuits to Bloodwing’s phasers.
My Enemy, my Ally i. 10
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1992
Peter David
bibliography
Tang stroked his round, stubbled chin. The large phaser he always wore was clipped to his waist and slapped against his thick leg.
Imzadi xvii. 124
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1995
Dean Wesley Smith
Kristine Kathryn Rusch
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‘Phasers on stun,’ Torres said softly to Kim while not slowing down. ‘Make it back to that ship and hold it secure. Understood?’
Star Trek Voyager: Escape v. 52
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1999
Neal Stephenson
A beam of yellow light, like a phaser blast in Star Trek, shoots across the bay.
Cryptonomicon 102
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2009
page image
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Eden led the security team into the shuttlebay, her phaser at the ready. It had been a long time since she had engaged in a combat scenario that wasn’t a simulation, but her body remembered what her mind would have preferred to forget.
Unworthy xxi. 285
Research requirements
antedating 1966
Earliest cite
G. Roddenberry in letter
Research History
Letter by Roddenberry April 26, 1966, "hand phaser". "Phaser pistol" found in shooting schedule 1965.Jeff Prucher found a 1953 cite for "phaser" in Robert A. Heinlein's "Starman Jones", but this was an unrelated sense, for a device for adjusting the "phase" of a force field.
Last modified 2021-12-14 14:27:03
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