Dud
Encyclopedia
A dud is an ammunition
round or explosive that fails to fire or detonate, respectively, on time or on command.
Duds are still dangerous and have to be deactivated and disposed of carefully. Poorly designed devices (for example, improvised explosive device
s (IEDs), and small devices, have higher chances of being duds. "Device Unable to Detonate" could be a possible acronym, or at least a backronym
, for dud.
The variation absolute dud describes a nuclear weapon
that fails to explode.
Although dud rounds have failed to function as designed, they are still dangerous, and can explode if handled. In wartorn areas, many curious children have been injured or killed from tampering with such devices. Dud fireworks
should be destroyed by soaking in water.
By extension, "dud" has become a slang
word for anything that does not work or is defective
. There is also a candy called Milk Duds
, so named because it was impossible to get them perfectly round.
. Other meanings of 'dud' are:
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
round or explosive that fails to fire or detonate, respectively, on time or on command.
Duds are still dangerous and have to be deactivated and disposed of carefully. Poorly designed devices (for example, improvised explosive device
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
s (IEDs), and small devices, have higher chances of being duds. "Device Unable to Detonate" could be a possible acronym, or at least a backronym
Backronym
A backronym or bacronym is a phrase constructed purposely, such that an acronym can be formed to a specific desired word. Backronyms may be invented with serious or humorous intent, or may be a type of false or folk etymology....
, for dud.
The variation absolute dud describes a nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
that fails to explode.
Although dud rounds have failed to function as designed, they are still dangerous, and can explode if handled. In wartorn areas, many curious children have been injured or killed from tampering with such devices. Dud fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
should be destroyed by soaking in water.
By extension, "dud" has become a slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
word for anything that does not work or is defective
Defective
Defective may refer to::*Defective matrix, in algebra*Defective verb, in linguistics*Defective, or haser, in Hebrew orthography, a spelling variant that does not include mater lectionis*Something presenting an anomaly making it unfunctional...
. There is also a candy called Milk Duds
Milk Duds
Milk Duds are a caramel candy, historically enrobed with milk chocolate and currently enrobed with a confectionery coating made from cocoa and vegetable oil. They are currently manufactured by The Hershey Company. Milk Dud's are an excellent source of Calcium, containing as much Calcuim as an 8 0z...
, so named because it was impossible to get them perfectly round.
Other meanings
Generally your duds are "your last possessions", what you are wearing and carrying, so nice duds is ironic and possibly an oxymoronOxymoron
An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms...
. Other meanings of 'dud' are:
- Duds - 16th century term for "clothes".
- Dud - 17th century term for "worthless". Then 17th Century term for "old clothes" and "rags".
- Duddery - 17th-19th century term for a "clothier's booth", trading in old cloth and rags.
- To sweat your duds - 19th century term to "pawnPawnPawn may refer to:* Pawn , the weakest and most numerous piece in the game* Pawn, another name for a pledge in certain jurisdictions ** Pawnshop/pawnbroker* Pawn , an embeddable programming language...
one's clothes" - Dudman - "Scarecrow!", possibly from DutchDutch languageDutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
Dood/dode man (dead man), or from the old clothes used to clothe a scarecrow. - 'Dud' is also used to describe a person who failed to meet standards in relationships.
- Dud , a village in TârnovaTârnova, AradTârnova is a commune in Arad County, Romania, is situated in the contact zone of the Cigherului Hills and Zărandului Mountains, it occupies approximately 19,000 hectares...
Commune, Arad County, Romania
See also
- In the wiktionary
- Bomb disposalBomb disposalBomb disposal is the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. Bomb disposal is an all encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the following fields:*Military:...
- Unexploded ordnanceUnexploded ordnanceUnexploded ordnance are explosive weapons that did not explode when they were employed and still pose a risk of detonation, potentially many decades after they were used or discarded.While "UXO" is widely and informally used, munitions and explosives of...
- The D-U-D communities of the Marshall IslandsMarshall IslandsThe Republic of the Marshall Islands , , is a Micronesian nation of atolls and islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, just west of the International Date Line and just north of the Equator. As of July 2011 the population was 67,182...
(DelapDelapDelap is an island town in the Marshall Islands. It is located in the east of Majuro Atoll. Along with Uliga and Djarrit it forms what is known as the "D–U–D communities"....
, UligaUligaUliga is an island town in the Marshall Islands. It is located in the east of Majuro Atoll. Along with Delap and Djarrit it forms what is known as the "D–U–D communities"....
, Djarrit) - Firearm malfunctionFirearm malfunctionA firearm malfunction is the partial or complete failure of a firearm to operate as intended. Malfunctions range from temporary and relatively safe situations, such as a casing that didn't eject, to potentially dangerous occurrences that may permanently damage the gun and cause injury or death...