Red Dwarf

:This article describes the British science fiction comedy television series. For the type of star, see red dwarf.

Invented words

Red Dwarf is famous for using the word "smeg" in order to remove swearwords from the show and to add to a futuristic terminology. Some examples of the word in context are "smegger", "smeghead", "smeg off", "smeg-for-brains", and "smegging hell". The character of Rimmer tells a vending machine in one episode to "...smeg off, you smeggy smegging smegger!", whilst another episode finds the phrase "Oh smeg, what the smegging smeg's he smegging done? He's smegging killed me!". The writers of Red Dwarf have stated that they invented the word and that it has no connection with any similar real words, such as "smegma"; however, lexicographer Tony Thorne, in his 1990 Dictionary of Contemporary Slang (ISBN 074752856X), reports instances of "smeg" (and derivatives) being used as a term of "mild contempt and even affection" among "schoolboys, students and punks" as early as the mid-1970s – a decade or so prior to the inception of the Red Dwarf phenomenon – and unequivocally traces the etymology of the term back to "smegma".

Related Topics:
Smeg - Swearwords - Vending machine - Smegma - Lexicographer - 1990 - 1970s

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The idea of an invented, substitute curseword was borrowed from the BBC sitcom Porridge, which brought the word "naff" into popular usage; the idea has been continued in Jim Henson's space-opera Farscape with the word "Frell" and also in sitcom Father Ted with the word "Feck".

Related Topics:
Invented, substitute curseword - Porridge - Jim Henson - Farscape - Father Ted

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There are other terminologies invented by Red Dwarf that are not as well-known as "smeg". Given the sarcastic and argumentative nature of the show's plotlines, many of these other new words are derogatory designations including "goit" (one who is annoying or awkward — perhaps adapted from the word "git" and "oik") and "gimboid" (one who is stupid or clumsy — similar in meaning to "moron", and possibly an adaptation of the word "gimp").

Related Topics:
Moron - Gimp

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The currency in use at the time Red Dwarf left the Solar System was apparently the "dollarpound", divided into one hundred "pennycents".

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In one episode, Cat uses the word 'Jozxyqk' in a Scrabble game, claiming it to be a cat word meaning "the sound you get when you get your sexual organs trapped in something". However, this is most likely an attempt by Cat to use otherwise useless letters in a game he may well have been losing; it has already been established that the Cat Race do not use written words, but rather smells, making it extremely unlikely that 'Jozxyqk' is a Cat word.

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A class of beings that makes recurring appearances in the programme are GELFs, an acronym for Genetically Engineered Life Forms.

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Several sets, seen often in the earlier episodes, have the phrase "Level Nivelo" prominently displayed on one wall. "Nivelo" is not an invented word within the series, but rather the Esperanto word for "level". In the Red Dwarf universe, the constructed language Esperanto is in much wider use than it is today, and Red Dwarf is officially a bilingual vessel. See the first episode in season two, "Kryten", in which Rimmer attempts to learn Esperanto. In fact, all the Esperanto used in Red Dwarf is correct, if sometimes poorly pronounced - and in the books, incorrectly spelt or mis-printed.

Related Topics:
Esperanto - Constructed language

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In the episode "Back To Reality", Timothy Spall's character Andy refers to the regular cast as "a bunch of twonks". Twonk is also used by Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses. He often calls Rodney a "dozy little twonk".

Related Topics:
Timothy Spall - Only Fools and Horses

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In the Series 5 episode "The Inquisitor", Kryten refers to a statement made by Lister as "complete and utter shash", leaving the viewer to assume that "shash" is synonymous with "nonsense". This word however seems not to make any other appearances. Holly also uses the word "Hotspur" to mean nonsense ("Queeg") - this is clearly a reference to the London football team Tottenham Hotspur.

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Whilst on his own for three million years, Red Dwarf's computer, Holly, decided to entertain himself by inventing Hol Rock, a fictional decimalised version of music. The notes he invented were 'H' and 'J' and he was convinced it would be a whole new sound. Unfortunately triangles would need an extra side, pianos would be the length of zebra crossings and women would be banned from playing the cello.

Related Topics:
Zebra crossing - Cello

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