Friction contrafibulator: Difference between revisions
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The '''friction contrafibulator''' was a button on the console of [[the Doctor's TARDIS]]. When [[Vincent van Gogh]] attempted to touch it, the [[Eleventh Doctor]] leapt across the TARDIS to stop him. ([[TV]]: ''[[Vincent and the Doctor]]'') | The '''friction contrafibulator''' was a button on the console of [[the Doctor's TARDIS]]. When [[Vincent van Gogh]] attempted to touch it, the [[Eleventh Doctor]] leapt across the TARDIS to stop him. ([[TV]]: ''[[Vincent and the Doctor]]'') | ||
== Behind the scenes == | == Behind the scenes == | ||
[[ | [[File:C is for contrafibularity - Blackadder - BBC|thumb|right|The [[Richard Curtis|Curtis]]-written ''Blackadder'' scene that inspired the {{lc:{{PAGENAME}}}}]] | ||
Though the word is superficially [[technobabble]], it's also a subtle connection to another [[Richard Curtis]] script: ''[[w:c:blackadder:Blackadder the Third|Blackadder the Third]]''{{'}}s ''[[w:c:blackadder:Ink and Incapability|Ink and Incapability]]''. | Though the word is superficially [[technobabble]], it's also a subtle connection to another [[Richard Curtis]] script: ''[[w:c:blackadder:Blackadder the Third|Blackadder the Third]]''{{'}}s ''[[w:c:blackadder:Ink and Incapability|Ink and Incapability]]''. In that story [[w:c:blackadder:Edmund Blackadder, Esq.|Blackadder]] frustrates lexicographer [[w:c:blackadder:Samuel Johnson|Samuel Johnson]] by throwing out a few nonsense words — including ''contrafibularity'' — after Johnson has claimed that his dictionary contains "every single word" in the English language. | ||
Breaking down this non-word to its real components, we find that it means ''contra'' (against) + ''fibula'' (the smaller of the two major bones of the leg) : "pulling one's leg". | Breaking down this non-word to its real components, we find that it means ''contra'' (against) + ''fibula'' (the smaller of the two major bones of the leg) : "pulling one's leg". | ||
[[Category:TARDIS components]] | [[Category:TARDIS components]] | ||
Revision as of 23:45, 1 May 2013
The friction contrafibulator was a button on the console of the Doctor's TARDIS. When Vincent van Gogh attempted to touch it, the Eleventh Doctor leapt across the TARDIS to stop him. (TV: Vincent and the Doctor)
Behind the scenes
Though the word is superficially technobabble, it's also a subtle connection to another Richard Curtis script: Blackadder the Third's Ink and Incapability. In that story Blackadder frustrates lexicographer Samuel Johnson by throwing out a few nonsense words — including contrafibularity — after Johnson has claimed that his dictionary contains "every single word" in the English language.
Breaking down this non-word to its real components, we find that it means contra (against) + fibula (the smaller of the two major bones of the leg) : "pulling one's leg".
