OT: What does 'rocket' mean?

Hi all.

These days the word 'rocket' is used to denote a flying
missile, propelled by the rapid intrenal burning of some
fuel, where the expelled exhaust gases provide the driving
force.

Some 200 years ago, Stephenson's first viable railroad
locomotive, powered by a steam engine, was named
'The Rocket.'

So I am wondering if the term 'rocket' meant something
else at that time? Or were rockets, in the presently
accepted meaning of the term, known at the time?

Rune

Rune Allnor wrote:
> Hi all.
>
> These days the word 'rocket' is used to denote a flying
> missile, propelled by the rapid intrenal burning of some
> fuel, where the expelled exhaust gases provide the driving
> force.
>
> Some 200 years ago, Stephenson's first viable railroad
> locomotive, powered by a steam engine, was named
> 'The Rocket.'
>
> So I am wondering if the term 'rocket' meant something
> else at that time? Or were rockets, in the presently
> accepted meaning of the term, known at the time?
>
> Rune


The Mongols had used rockets in the late middle ages*  in
assaulting European places, so I imagine his use
of the word is simply to imply "fast".

*1200s.

--
Les Cargill

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=rocket

rocket (2)
    "projectile," 1610s, from It. rocchetto "a rocket," lit. "a bobbin," dim. of
rocca "a distaff," so called because of cylindrical shape. The Italian word
probably is from a Germanic source (cf. O.H.G. rocko "distaff," O.N. rokkr),
from P.Gmc. *rukka-, from PIE base *rug- "to spin." Originally "fireworks
rocket," meaning "device propelled by a rocket engine" first recorded 1919;
rocket-ship first attested 1927. The verb meaning "to spring like a rocket" is
from 1883. Rocket science in the figurative sense of �difficult, complex process
or topic� is attested by 1985. Rocket scientist is from 1952.

I think the need for external oxygen also comes into play...

Mark

On 10/12/2011 15:44, Greg Berchin wrote:
> http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=rocket
>
> rocket (2)
>      "projectile," 1610s, from It. rocchetto "a rocket," lit. "a bobbin," dim. of
> rocca "a distaff," so called because of cylindrical shape. The Italian word
> probably is from a Germanic source (cf. O.H.G. rocko "distaff," O.N. rokkr),
> from P.Gmc. *rukka-, from PIE base *rug- "to spin." Originally "fireworks
> rocket," meaning "device propelled by a rocket engine" first recorded 1919;
> rocket-ship first attested 1927. The verb meaning "to spring like a rocket" is
> from 1883. Rocket science in the figurative sense of �difficult, complex process
> or topic� is attested by 1985. Rocket scientist is from 1952.


The OED has it from 1611 in English, to signify the firework. The word 
existed long before with other meanings (including the salad plant). 
Fireworks were of course brought back, along with the gunpowder they 
involved, from China and widely used, especially for grand celebrations 
(hence, G.F. Handel, "Music for the Royal Fireworks"). The alchemists 
probably got involved too, one way and another. According to the OED, 
the name "rocket" included squibs and other pyrotechnics, as well as 
rockets fired into the sky. The composer Stamitz (mid-18th Century) 
gained considerable fame composing symphonies for the orchestra at 
Mannheim including dramatic upward-rushing scale figures, popularly 
known thereafter as the "Mannheim Skyrocket". So we may surmise that the 
name was chosen by Stevenson as evoking an image of speed along with 
magic, shock and awe, plus no doubt the literal internal combustion 
aspect too.

Richard Dobson

On 12/10/2011 12:53 PM, Richard Dobson wrote:
> On 10/12/2011 15:44, Greg Berchin wrote:
>> http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=rocket
>>
>> rocket (2)
>> "projectile," 1610s, from It. rocchetto "a rocket," lit. "a bobbin,"
>> dim. of
>> rocca "a distaff," so called because of cylindrical shape. The Italian
>> word
>> probably is from a Germanic source (cf. O.H.G. rocko "distaff," O.N.
>> rokkr),
>> from P.Gmc. *rukka-, from PIE base *rug- "to spin." Originally "fireworks
>> rocket," meaning "device propelled by a rocket engine" first recorded
>> 1919;
>> rocket-ship first attested 1927. The verb meaning "to spring like a
>> rocket" is
>> from 1883. Rocket science in the figurative sense of �difficult,
>> complex process
>> or topic� is attested by 1985. Rocket scientist is from 1952.
>
>
> The OED has it from 1611 in English, to signify the firework. The word
> existed long before with other meanings (including the salad plant).
> Fireworks were of course brought back, along with the gunpowder they
> involved, from China and widely used, especially for grand celebrations
> (hence, G.F. Handel, "Music for the Royal Fireworks"). The alchemists
> probably got involved too, one way and another. According to the OED,
> the name "rocket" included squibs and other pyrotechnics, as well as
> rockets fired into the sky. The composer Stamitz (mid-18th Century)
> gained considerable fame composing symphonies for the orchestra at
> Mannheim including dramatic upward-rushing scale figures, popularly
> known thereafter as the "Mannheim Skyrocket". So we may surmise that the
> name was chosen by Stevenson as evoking an image of speed along with
> magic, shock and awe, plus no doubt the literal internal combustion
> aspect too.

Tut tut, Richard! Stephenson's Rocket had a boiler, as I'm sureyou know.

Jerry
-- 
Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can get.
�����������������������������������������������������������������������

On Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:20:28 -0500, Jerry Avins <jya@ieee.org> wrote:

>On 12/10/2011 12:53 PM, Richard Dobson wrote:
>> On 10/12/2011 15:44, Greg Berchin wrote:
>>> http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=rocket
>>>
>>> rocket (2)
>>> "projectile," 1610s, from It. rocchetto "a rocket," lit. "a bobbin,"
>>> dim. of
>>> rocca "a distaff," so called because of cylindrical shape. The Italian
>>> word
>>> probably is from a Germanic source (cf. O.H.G. rocko "distaff," O.N.
>>> rokkr),
>>> from P.Gmc. *rukka-, from PIE base *rug- "to spin." Originally "fireworks
>>> rocket," meaning "device propelled by a rocket engine" first recorded
>>> 1919;
>>> rocket-ship first attested 1927. The verb meaning "to spring like a
>>> rocket" is
>>> from 1883. Rocket science in the figurative sense of &#4294967295;difficult,
>>> complex process
>>> or topic&#4294967295; is attested by 1985. Rocket scientist is from 1952.
>>
>>
>> The OED has it from 1611 in English, to signify the firework. The word
>> existed long before with other meanings (including the salad plant).
>> Fireworks were of course brought back, along with the gunpowder they
>> involved, from China and widely used, especially for grand celebrations
>> (hence, G.F. Handel, "Music for the Royal Fireworks"). The alchemists
>> probably got involved too, one way and another. According to the OED,
>> the name "rocket" included squibs and other pyrotechnics, as well as
>> rockets fired into the sky. The composer Stamitz (mid-18th Century)
>> gained considerable fame composing symphonies for the orchestra at
>> Mannheim including dramatic upward-rushing scale figures, popularly
>> known thereafter as the "Mannheim Skyrocket". So we may surmise that the
>> name was chosen by Stevenson as evoking an image of speed along with
>> magic, shock and awe, plus no doubt the literal internal combustion
>> aspect too.
>
>Tut tut, Richard! Stephenson's Rocket had a boiler, as I'm sureyou know.
>
>Jerry

Yes, so I always just assumed the metaphoric moniker was to imply that
it was fast.   Oldsmobile did the same thing in the '50s, as have many
other marketers of things that they wanted to imply performed
admirably.


Eric Jacobsen
Anchor Hill Communications
www.anchorhill.com

On 10 Des, 20:12, eric.jacob...@ieee.org (Eric Jacobsen) wrote:
> On Sat, 10 Dec 2011 13:20:28 -0500, Jerry Avins <j...@ieee.org> wrote:
> >On 12/10/2011 12:53 PM, Richard Dobson wrote:
> >> On 10/12/2011 15:44, Greg Berchin wrote:
> >>>http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=rocket
>
> >>> rocket (2)
> >>> "projectile," 1610s, from It. rocchetto "a rocket," lit. "a bobbin,"
> >>> dim. of
> >>> rocca "a distaff," so called because of cylindrical shape. The Italian
> >>> word
> >>> probably is from a Germanic source (cf. O.H.G. rocko "distaff," O.N.
> >>> rokkr),
> >>> from P.Gmc. *rukka-, from PIE base *rug- "to spin." Originally "fireworks
> >>> rocket," meaning "device propelled by a rocket engine" first recorded
> >>> 1919;
> >>> rocket-ship first attested 1927. The verb meaning "to spring like a
> >>> rocket" is
> >>> from 1883. Rocket science in the figurative sense of &#4294967295;difficult,
> >>> complex process
> >>> or topic&#4294967295; is attested by 1985. Rocket scientist is from 1952.
>
> >> The OED has it from 1611 in English, to signify the firework. The word
> >> existed long before with other meanings (including the salad plant).
> >> Fireworks were of course brought back, along with the gunpowder they
> >> involved, from China and widely used, especially for grand celebrations
> >> (hence, G.F. Handel, "Music for the Royal Fireworks"). The alchemists
> >> probably got involved too, one way and another. According to the OED,
> >> the name "rocket" included squibs and other pyrotechnics, as well as
> >> rockets fired into the sky. The composer Stamitz (mid-18th Century)
> >> gained considerable fame composing symphonies for the orchestra at
> >> Mannheim including dramatic upward-rushing scale figures, popularly
> >> known thereafter as the "Mannheim Skyrocket". So we may surmise that the
> >> name was chosen by Stevenson as evoking an image of speed along with
> >> magic, shock and awe, plus no doubt the literal internal combustion
> >> aspect too.
>
> >Tut tut, Richard! Stephenson's Rocket had a boiler, as I'm sureyou know.
>
> >Jerry
>
> Yes, so I always just assumed the metaphoric moniker was to imply that
> it was fast. &#4294967295; Oldsmobile did the same thing in the '50s, as have many
> other marketers of things that they wanted to imply performed
> admirably.

Sure, but by that time the term had already gotten its
present meaning: Goddard made his first rockets in the '20s,
while von Braun & Co had lobbed their V2s out of Peenemunde
during WWII.

Rune

On Dec 11, 4:22&#4294967295;am, Rune Allnor <all...@tele.ntnu.no> wrote:
> Hi all.
>
> These days the word 'rocket' is used to denote a flying
> missile, propelled by the rapid intrenal burning of some
> fuel, where the expelled exhaust gases provide the driving
> force.
>
> Some 200years ago, Stephenson's first viable railroad
> locomotive, powered by a steam engine, was named
> 'The Rocket.'
>
> So I am wondering if the term 'rocket' meant something
> else at that time? Or were rockets, in the presently
> accepted meaning of the term, known at the time?
>
> Rune

It's a kind of green used in salads.

On 12/10/2011 2:16 PM, Rune Allnor wrote:
> On 10 Des, 20:12, eric.jacob...@ieee.org (Eric Jacobsen) wrote:

   ...

>> Yes, so I always just assumed the metaphoric moniker was to imply that
>> it was fast.   Oldsmobile did the same thing in the '50s, as have many
>> other marketers of things that they wanted to imply performed
>> admirably.
>
> Sure, but by that time the term had already gotten its
> present meaning: Goddard made his first rockets in the '20s,
> while von Braun&  Co had lobbed their V2s out of Peenemunde
> during WWII.

Congreve's rockets were used in war by the British as early as 1810. 
They were refinements of Oriental war rockets, "fire arrows", hundreds 
of years older. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rockets. Genghis 
Kahn used rockets in his Russian campaign.

Jerry
-- 
Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can get.
�����������������������������������������������������������������������