List of terms (TOS)

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For terms used in separate continuity and unproduced script sources, see: List of terms (TOS alternate).
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Battlestar Galactica Terminology


The Colonials and Cylons employ a distinct nomenclature of military jargon, colloquialisms, sayings, and technical terms to create a culture distinctly "alien" to the audience. This article serves to organize and summarize this terminology, leading to different articles if the term needs to be further expanded upon.

Acronyms[edit]

Honorifics[edit]

  • Count, a title of nobility (e.g. Count Iblis)
  • Lord, a title of nobility (e.g. Lord Baltar)
  • Sire, a title of nobility, typically ascribed to a civilian of the male gender (e.g. Sire Uri, Sire Solon)
  • Siress, a title of nobility, typically ascribed to a civilian of the female gender (e.g. Siress Tinia, Siress Blassie)

Colloquialisms[edit]

General Jargon[edit]

Technology[edit]

Military Jargon[edit]

Sayings[edit]

  • "laser in their side": analogue to "thorn in their side", Starbuck uses this term to describe how the actions of Megan's surviving children have kept their father alive at Cylon hands (TOS: "The Young Lords").


Units of Measure[edit]

Colonial Unit Earth Unit
Time measurements
yahren year[2]
quatron month
secton week
time cycle day
centar hour
millicenton 10 minutes
centon minute[3]
micron second
microcenton second[4]
Distance measurements
parsec 90 Million Miles
hectar 9 Million Miles
sectar 9 Million Miles (?)[5]
metric kilometer
maxim 10 meters
metron meter[6]
Scientific measurements
ergon unknown
megon megaton
radion rad
volton voltage
wavelon wavelength

Table notes[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 As noted from Sheba's scanner readout in "The Living Legend, Part I". Refer to this image.
  2. Yahren may be only about 2/3 of a year; see note.
  3. In episodes such as "Saga of a Star World" and "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part I", centon is used as the Colonial equivalent of a week before being retconned in later episodes.
  4. Microcenton is likely another term for "micron"; Starbuck uses this term when he says "switching off of you for a microcenton to scan ahead" (TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part II")
  5. A sectar is an unknown unit of measure, measuring either distance or time.
  6. "Metron" is used in a deleted scene as Serina approaches the starboard landing bay (TOS: "Lost Planet of the Gods, Part II"); likely similar to a meter, which is known as a "metric" in other episodes.

See also[edit]