An Open Source Project.
 

Researching ship name lists based on 'themes' has become a big thing for me. I've now got a total of 50 files with more-or-less non-duplicate lists of 100 names or more. Currently, I'm working on something that's a bit harder than usual. Researching a mythology is actually pretty easy. You can find reference works in the library and special sites on the internet. But this idea is to gather all of the 'metaphorical' creatures that can be found in English idiom as a 'theme' list. Note that I've already got a list of animal names. That's a fairly obvious idea, and not hard to research. This is 'imaginary' animals in language. The qualifications used to make them into metaphors are essential to keep them from duplicating the existing list, and not all of them have to be animals. Here is the list of metaphorical creatures I've recollected so far. If you can think of any other 'vernacular' phrases that use some sort of creature metaphor please post. I like to have 100 or more names before declaring a list 'ready to use'. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Bird of Prey
Black Sheep
Cold Fish
Dark Horse
Dumb Ox
Fly on the Wall
Fat Cat
Gay Dog
Great White Buffalo
Iron Horse
Lone Wolf
Love Bird
Lucky Dog
March Hare
Moby Grape
Old Goat
Pink Elephant
Raging Bull
Rubber Chicken
Rubber Duckie
Rug Rat
Sacred Cow
Silly Goose
Sly Dog
Tar Baby
Ugly Duckling
War Hawk
Wet Hen
White Elephant
Young Lion

Edit: Yes, I'm aware that 'Moby Grape' is not a metaphor but the old name of Jefferson Airplane/Starship. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif This list actually began as a psychedelic theme rather than metaphoric but I cannot find ANY way to research psychedelic phrases. If you can think of any of those, please feel free to add them here, as well. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif



[This message has been edited by Baron Munchausen (edited 27 August 2001).]

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Red Herring

I'll try to think of more.
Rollo

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Isn't it 'Sly Fox', not 'Sly Dog'? Maybe both, and you have another name http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Not sure if all these fit with what you are going for, but...

Spring Chicken
Busy Bee
Dirty Rat
Dirty Bird
Eagle Eye
Leapin' Lizard
Proud Peacock
Crouching Tiger
Hidden Dragon http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif
Cheeky Monkey http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon10.gif (This is fun!)
Bug in a Rug (You had fly on a wall. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/icon7.gif )
Sleeping Dog
Laughing Hyena
Weeping Willow
Rolling Stone

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Briefly, bad penny, drop of a hat, loose cannon, loud mouth, forked tongue, loose lips, screw loose, cart before the horse, black cat, tiger by the tail, wild cat.
Your thread, sorry for intruding, try a lycos search *isms words. For example colloquialisms.

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Some of these might fit (not necessarily flattering ship names, though.)

Bass-o-matic
Bats in the Belfry
Black Adder
Blind as a Bat
Church Mouse
Clay Pidgeon
Dead Duck
Fish in a Barrel
Fish out of Water
Holy Mackerel
Lab Rat
Lame Duck
Mad Cow
Mouse that Roared
Purple People Eater
Stool Pidgeon
Stubborn Mule
Trained Monkey
Wounded Tuna

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

And of coarse there is the old standbys

Scaredy Cat
or
Fraidy Cat
Scapegoat

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Door Mouse
Holy Mackeral
Chicken of the Sea
The Other White Meat
Solitary Oyster
Lone Wolf -already suggested?
Busy Beaver

------------------
Assume you have a 1kg squirrel
E=mc^2
E=1kg(3x10^8m/s)^2=9x10^16J
which, if I'm not mistaken, is equivilent to roughly a 50 megaton nuclear bomb.
Fear the squirrel.

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

and Humbug!

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Ok, this may be out of place but:

'Shopping Centaur'

(for more just refer to Piers Anthony and his Xanth novels.....more puns than is humanly possible)..

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Uh Huh
Get The Picture
Lay It On The Line
A Cloud Of Dust
A Flash Of Light
Up In Smoke
Never Say Never.....

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

The Other Half
The Better Half
A Silent Partner
The computer I use crashes every time I post instead of just browsing. So I will
Take A Break
And See What
Comes To Mind....

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Look here. http://www.info.gov.hk/mardep/sdfiles/shipreg.htm
http://www.webcom.com/~amraam/shipind.html
http://www.nvr.navy.mil/nvrships/name.htm

[This message has been edited by Atrocities (edited 27 August 2001).]

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

I've thought of quite a few more myself. There seem to be many of these metaphors. It's interesting that there seem to be so many for birds. Maybe we'll really get to 100.

Cock of the Walk
Early Bird
Firebug
Homing Pigeon
Old Coot
Snake in the Grass
Watchdog
Wise Old Owl

Edit: And I just rememebered 'early bird'! http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

[This message has been edited by Baron Munchausen (edited 27 August 2001).]

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Dahlai Llama http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon10.gif
Early Bird [edit: BM and I must be psychic!]
Road Hog
Corn Dog http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon10.gif
Alley Cat

[This message has been edited by dmm (edited 27 August 2001).]

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

I don't know why, but "Desert Rat" keeps coming to mind.

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Don't forget Desert Eagle. (Ah, Counter Strike...)

------------------
Assume you have a 1kg squirrel
E=mc^2
E=1kg(3x10^8m/s)^2=9x10^16J
which, if I'm not mistaken, is equivilent to roughly a 50 megaton nuclear bomb.
Fear the squirrel.

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

desert fox.



------------------
L? GdX $ Fr C++ SdT T+ Sf* Tcp+ A M++ MpTM ROTS Pw+ Fq+ Nd Rp++ G+

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

A lot of these names are actually names of real creatures, though. There is a rodent called a "Desert Rat" for example. And the "Door Mouse" is a bad pun on "Dormouse" a real creature. I don't know of any metaphor in English that uses "Door Mouse" -- do you? These names might cause conflicts with other lists of actual ceatures.

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

"Desert Rats" is also the name of a Shrapnel game. It kept flashing on and off, on and off, in the banner ad. After a while it took over my brain and forced me to post it on your topic.

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Ships in the dreaded Elvis fleet:
Rockin' Robin
You-Aint-Nuttin-But-A Hound Dog


Other ships:
Wise *** (a crappy ship for trading with the AI)
Kiss *** (for gifting to a human player threatening your annihilation)

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

The Monkey Business (Gary Hart, captain)
Monkey's Uncle
Monkey See, Monkey Do
Busy Beaver
Mother Hen (support ship)
Blind Bat (no sensors)
Beached Whale (no engines)
Raging Bull
Fish Out of Water (no life support)
Fish N Chips (computer-controlled)
800-Pound Gorilla
Squirrely (minister-controlled)
Dead Duck (shot-up ship for trading to AI)
Peking Duck (long range sensors [GET IT? http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...s/rolleyes.gif ])
Naked Jaybird (no armor)
Happy Clam (only a "shell" of a ship; sits in orbit to placate population)

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

It's scary what happens when you keep a notepad open to write down thoughts while at work....

On a Lark
Frog Prince
Lord of the Flies
Silence of the Lambs
Flea Market
Flea Circus
Top Cat
Dog and Pony Show
Dog House
Dogfight
Cat Fight
Old Crow
Pink Panther
Super Fly
Bantam Weight
Pork Chop Hill
Horse Sense
Mark of the Beast
Four Horsemen
Italian Stallion
Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
Cat O' Nine Tales
Bull Pen
Fly Weight
Mad Dog
Hot Dog
Dirty Dog
Red Dog
Cuckoo's Nest
Crow's Nest
Hair of the Dog
Glue Factory
Not Cricket
Roach Trap
Roach Clip
Roach Coach
Blood Sucker
Pigs in a Blanket
Jail Bird
Sing like a Canary
For the Birds
Golden Goose
Loaded for Bear
Bear with me http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif
Grin and Bear It
Laughing Stock
Spruce Goose
Gossamer Condor
Tiger in the Tank
Cat and Mouse
Wild Weasel
Horse of a Different Color
Flea Flicker
Dyna Soar
Jackrabbit Start
As the Crow Flies
Lonesome Dove
Ugly Duckling

How's that for a day's worth of random programmer thoughts? http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/images/icons/shock.gif

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Eating Crow
A Bird in the Hand
Mad as a Hornet
Sitting in the Catbird's Seat

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Talk Turkey
Uncle Tom
Chicken Feed
Fowl Ball!
Shrike Three! http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...s/rolleyes.gif
Infield Fly
Flight of the Bumblebee
Worm Out of It
SawBuck
Doe Ray Me
Buck Rogers
Buck the Tide
Buck the System
Fawning Sycophant
Roe Your Boat
Adder Boy!
Asp Me Anything
Egg On Your Face
Chicken Lips
Crocodile Tears
Crocodile Rock
Don't Have a Cow, Man!
Bull(doo-doo)!

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

First, the animal metaphors:

Barrel of Monkeys
Lounge Lizard
Blue Iguana
Crunchy Frog
Software Toad
Fish Heads
Fish Lips
Tiger by the Tail
Bull by the Horns (or by the Ba!!s)
Snipe
Guttersnipe
Atom Ant
Danger Mouse
Courageous Cat
Minute Mouse
Mighty Mouse (Here he comes to save the day!!!)
Cat in the Hat
Pale Horse
March Hare
Spelling Bee
Quilting Bee
Skeletonized Cow (okay, this one is pushing the limits...)
Dust Bunny
Dust Puppy
Crud Puppy
Cool Cat
Krazy Kat
Fritz the Cat
Teddy Bear
Fuzzy Wuzzy Bear
Naked Ape
Grape Ape
Deputy Dog
Male Chauvinist Pig
Swamp Fox (American Revolutionary War hero)
**************
And now, the psychedelia:

Strawberry Alarm Clock
Incense and Peppermints
Tangerine Dream
Mellow Yellow
Mr. Tambourine Man
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Strawberry Fields Forever
Oingo Boingo
Led Zeppelin
****************************
And the crossover hits:

Butterfly Dead
Iron Butterfly
Three Dog Night
John Cougar (Mellencamp)
Blue Oyster Cult
Adam Ant

<edit: moved some entries to "crossover hits">

[This message has been edited by DirectorTsaarx (edited 29 August 2001).]

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Ok, I wanted to stay 'purist' and only use animal metaphors but the number wasn't going to be enough. After bending a little bit on the rules I've got 150 metaphor derived names. That's enough for relatively low 're-usage' in a real game. Dunno how some of them would look as ship names, but here they are.

800-lb Gorilla
Alley Cat
Barrel of Monkeys
Bat Out of Hell
Beached Whale
Bird in Hand
Bird of Prey
Black Sheep
Blind as a Bat
Bottled Lightning
Brass Monkey
Bug in a Rug
Bull Feathers
Bull Pen
Busy Beaver
Busy Bee
Buzzing Insect
Caged Bird
Can of Worms
Chattering Magpie
Chicken Feed
Clay Pigeon
Clinging Vine
Cock of the Walk
Coffin Nail
Cold Fish
Cool Cat
Crocodile Tears
Dark Horse
Dead Dog
Dead Duck
Deputy Dog
Dirty Rat
Dirty Bird
Dog in the Manger
Dumb Bunny
Dumb Ox
Dust Bunny
Eagle Eye
Early Bird
Fine Feathered Friend
Fire-bug
Fish in a Barrel
Fish Out of Water
Fly on the Wall
Fat Cat
Flash in the Pan
Fraidy Cat
Frog in the Throat
Frog Prince
Gay Dog
Gift Horse
Gilded Lily
Gold-bug
Grape Ape
Grased Lightning
Great White Buffalo
Guttersnipe
Hair of the Dog
Hepcat
Holy Cow
Holy Mackerel
Homing Pigeon
Horse Feathers
Horse Laugh
Horse Sense
Hush Puppy
Iron Horse
Iron in the Fire
Jail Bird
Kettle of Fish
Lab Rat
Lame Duck
Laughing Hyena
Lazy Grasshopper
Legal Eagle
Lion in Winter
Lion's Share
Loan Shark
Lone Wolf
Lonesome Dove
Long Pig
Long Spoon
Lounge Lizard
Love Bird
Lucky Dog
Male Chauvinist Pig
Mall Rat
March Hare
Moby Grape
Monkey Business
Monkey on Your Back
Mother Hen
Naked Ape
Nest Egg
Newshound
Old Coot
Old Crow
Old Goat
Pale Horse
Pig in a Poke
Pink Elephant
Pink Panther
Raging Bull
Ratfink
Red Herring
Road Hog
Rubber Chicken
Rubber Duckie
Rug Rat
Sacred Cow
Sacrificial Lamb
Scapegoat
Scaredy Cat
Screaming Eagle
Scurvy Dog
Shaggy Dog
Shaved Fish
Shrinking Violet
Silly Goose
Sitting Duck
Sleeping Dog
Sleeping Giant
Sly Dog
Sly Fox
Snake in the Grass
Solitary Oyster
Sour Grapes
Spring Chicken
Stolen Thunder
Stone Pony
Stool Pigeon
Straw Dog
Straw Man
Stubborn Mule
Super Fly
Tar Baby
Top Cat
Trained Monkey
Ugly Duckling
Wall Flower
Warhawk
Watchdog
Wet Blanket
Wet Hen
White Elephant
Wise Old Owl
Wolf at the Door
Yard Ape
Young Lion

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Reflex action
Cocked Up

The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Leguin

The Long Arm of Gil Hamilton - guess who....

The Right Hand of Justice...

A Leap of Intuition

Jumping to Conclusions

Not Welcome Mattress

I am out of Here!


[This message has been edited by LCC (edited 07 September 2001).]

A Loaded Question
A Nebulous Response

[This message has been edited by LCC (edited 07 September 2001).]

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

I got another one:
Sick Puppy

Rollo

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Going Off Half Cocked
Back To Square One

Actually I doubt that you are able to square a one, you think that it remains one too.

Dont be asinine
Take A Wild *** Guess

[This message has been edited by LCC (edited 07 September 2001).]
Would you rather :
Be taken up on it
Be Taken upstairs for a ride
Be taken aback
be taken along for the Hell of it

????

[This message has been edited by LCC (edited 07 September 2001).]

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Flash in the Pan<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Fire in the Hole

------------------
Cap'n Q

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the
human mind to correlate all of its contents. We live on a placid
island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was
not meant that we should go far. -- HP Lovecraft, "The Call of Cthulhu"

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Baron Munchausen:
Grased Lightning
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Oops, that's probably "Greased Lightning", unless there is a reference I'm not familiar with. http://www.shrapnelgames.com/ubb/ima...ons/icon12.gif

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

Of all the ships names i came across all the Sci Fi novels i´ve read, the most impressive to me (i never forget that) is in the "culture" saga of Iain Banks

They have a capitol ship that sizes about 6 km long, able to destroy a world, with gazillions of populations into it.
Its commanded by an AI, and its name is...

"Size isn´t everything"

There are other names troughout the novels (i´ve read 3) and i was always amazed by that ...



------------------
"Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down tho their level, then beat you with experience".

Re: An Open Source Project.
 

I am not sure if this is the proper thread to mention it, but I read over 100 of the Perry Rhodan novels as well as all of the Dumarest of Terra up until 1986. Both series were chock full of cliches...

Lonnie Courtney Clay