When you hear the word "gun" you might think of a 9mm pistol, or maybe even an AR-15 rifle. But if you were living by military lingo, you'd actually be wrong. That's according to a comprehensive list of military meanings published by NPR.
MUNSTER, GERMANY - OCTOBER 02: Soldiers of the Bundeswehr present their Heckler und Koch G36 military rifles during the annual military exercises held for the media at the Bergen military training grounds on October 2, 2013 near Munster, Germany. Philipp Guelland/Getty Images
The word "gun" in combat, the outlet notes, actually refers to a mortar tube or artillery piece. "Military-issued pistols," the author writes, "are usually called 9-mils."
So what are some of the others? How about Geardo (rhymes with weirdo), Green Bean, Poo, DFAC, and Dustoff.
Below are those meanings and some others from the extensive list:
Bone: The B-1 bomber.CHU: (pronounced choo) Containerized Housing Unit. These small, climate-controlled trailers usually sleep between two and eight soldiers and is the primary unit of housing on larger bases. A CHU Farm is a large number of CHUs together. A Wet CHU is a CHU that has its own bathroom, usually reserved for generals and other high-ranking individuals. CHUs are unarmored and very vulnerable to rocket attacks.
COP: Combat Outpost. A small base, usually housing between 40 and 150 soldiers, often in a particularly hostile area. Life at a COP is often austere and demanding, with every soldier responsible for both guard duty and patrolling.
DFAC: (pronounced dee-fack) Dining Facility, aka Chow Hall. Where soldiers eat. At larger bases the meals are served by contracted employees, often from Bangladesh or . These employees are called TCNs, or Third-Country Nationals.
Dustoff: Medical evacuation by helicopter. For example, "dustoff inbound" means that a medevac helicopter is on the way.
Fobbit: Combination of FOB [forward operating base] and Hobbit. Derogatory term for soldiers who do not patrol outside the FOB.
Geardo: (rhymes with weirdo) A soldier who spends an inordinate amount of their personal money to buy fancy military gear, such as weapon lights, GPS watches, custom rucksacks, etc. Generally refers to a soldier with little tactical need for such equipment. See: Fobbit.
Green Bean: A civilian-run coffee shop common on larger bases in Iraq and Afghanistan, often the locus of the base social scene, such as it is.
Moon Dust: The powdery, flour-like dust that covers everything in southern Afghanistan and much of Iraq.
POO: Point Of Origin. The site from which a rocket or mortar was launched at U.S. forces. Most easily calculated by tracking the projectile's trajectory with radar. Example: "We're going out POO hunting."
Rumint: A combination of rumor and intelligence. Gossip, scuttlebutt.
Woobie: Properly called a poncho liner, this lightly insulated blanket is usually issued to soldiers in basic training. The name references the attachment a baby forms with its blanket.
You can get the full list over at NPR. Have any additions? Let us know in the comments
