Klick
Encyclopedia
Klick is military slang
for kilometer. The term was commonly used by US soldiers during the Vietnam War
in the 1960s and 1970s, although veteran
s recall its usage as early as the 1950s; this is attested by Robert Heinlein's use of the term in his 1959 novel Starship Troopers
. Some claim that the term originated from the sound military vehicle odometer
s made as they turned over each kilometer. Another theory is that it is an example of condensed pronunciation
or contraction
of the term kilometer.
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...
for kilometer. The term was commonly used by US soldiers during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
in the 1960s and 1970s, although veteran
Veteran
A veteran is a person who has had long service or experience in a particular occupation or field; " A veteran of ..."...
s recall its usage as early as the 1950s; this is attested by Robert Heinlein's use of the term in his 1959 novel Starship Troopers
Starship Troopers
Starship Troopers is a military science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, first published as a serial in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and published hardcover in December, 1959.The first-person narrative is about a young soldier from the Philippines named Juan "Johnnie" Rico and his...
. Some claim that the term originated from the sound military vehicle odometer
Odometer
An odometer or odograph is an instrument that indicates distance traveled by a vehicle, such as a bicycle or automobile. The device may be electronic, mechanical, or a combination of the two. The word derives from the Greek words hodós and métron...
s made as they turned over each kilometer. Another theory is that it is an example of condensed pronunciation
Relaxed pronunciation
Relaxed pronunciation is a phenomenon that happens when the syllables of common words are slurred together...
or contraction
Contraction (grammar)
A contraction is a shortened version of the written and spoken forms of a word, syllable, or word group, created by omission of internal letters....
of the term kilometer.