[tlhIngan Hol] Klingon Word of the Day: bach

[Steven Boozer]

Klingon Word of the Day for Monday, August 07, 2023

Klingon word: bach
Part of speech: verb
Definition: shoot
_______________________________________________

logh veQDaq bachchugh, yoH 'e' toblaHbe' SuvwI' 
Shooting space garbage is no test of a warrior's mettle. (ST5 notes [line replaced])

SuvwI' vI' Dub naQvam 'ej ray' HopDaq bachlu'meH chuqna' ghurmoH naQvam 
This serves to steady the aim of a warrior and increase the effective range for distance targeting. S14

pe'vIl mu'qaDmey tIbach 
Curse well!   TKW
[(TKW 148):  The commonly heard sendoff "Curse well!" — roughly comparable in usage to the Federation Standard Good luck! — literally means, "Shoot curses forcefully!" Curses are considered a weapon of a sort which must be propelled to their targets.]

(KGT 56):  The verb used for shoot when referring to disruptors is {bach}. Technically speaking, one shoots the energy beam from the disruptor. The general word for any energy beam (ray) is {tIH}, so a disruptor's beam is {nISwI' tIH}. Thus, the correct formation is {nISwI' tIH bach} ("shoot the disruptor beam"). As a practical matter, however, the {tIH} is often left out, and {nISwI' bach} is the common way to say shoot a disruptor. Similarly, {pu' bach} is shoot a phaser.

N.B. Klingons also use the thumb to fire some weapons:  {nISwI' HIch Sen} "fire the disruptor pistol" (lit. "use the thumb in the way it's most appropriately used on a disruptor pistol", "use the thumb to activate the disruptor pistol", "thumb the disruptor pistol".  (HQ 10.2:8) 

TREK NOTES:
  “The trigger has been pulled, we have to get there before the hammer falls.” (Kirk, TOS “Errand of Mercy”)

SEE:
bach  		shot (n)
   bach Do', qaH 
   A lucky shot sir... ST3

SEE ALSO:
baH 		fire (torpedo, rocket, missile) (v)
puS 		sight (with gunsight) (v)
vo’ 		propel (v)

nuH 		weapon (n)
tal 		cannon (n)
nIch 		ammunition (n)

--
Voragh, Ca'Non Master of the Klingons
    Please contribute relevant vocabulary from recent qep’a’mey 
    or qepHommey. I’ve fallen woefully behind in updating my files.