unass

v. to dismount or disembark (a vehicle); to get off of (something); to unseat (someone); to leave (somewhere). Subjects: English, Military, Slang

Editorial Note: This term dates back to at least the 1960s and the Vietnam War. It is especially associated with the military, from where it has spread to politics and aeronautics.

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Citations: 1989 Richard West The Independent (U.K.) (Nov. 29) “Misfortunes of war: ‘About Face’—David H Hackworth & Julie Sherman”: Airmobile assaults were both exciting and frightening. Each one was a gut-churning event not dissimilar to the moment before you unassed a plane with a parachute on your back. 1990 [geoffm@purplehaze.EBay.Sun.COM (Geoff Miller)] Usenet: rec.autos.driving (Nov. 15) “Re: getting rear ended”: “I’ll take ‘un-assing the A.O.’ to mean ‘helping up the arresting officer.‘“…"Get a clue. The phrase is Army slang for ‘leaving the area of operations.‘“ 1992 [Rick Pavek (kuryakin@bcstec.ca.boeing.com)] Usenet: sci.military (Dec. 30) “Re: Sheridan”: The crew felt they would be more useful elsewhere and dismounted the tank in record time. (We called it “Unassed the vehicle.") 1993 [prb@access.digex.net (Pat)] Usenet: sci.space (Aug. 14) “Re: engine failures and safety”: There have been numerous cases of the plane making an acceptable touchdown while significant passenger casualties are taken before they can un-ass the aircract. 1993 [barrey@Novell.com (Barrey Jewall)] Usenet: alt.war (Oct. 13) “Re: barefooted warriors in somalia”: Un-ass the place and leave them to fight over the food and die! 1997 [ciacon@ix.netcom.com (Wayne Johnson)] Usenet: soc.culture.african.american (Dec. 20) “Re: The national debt to slavery”: But all these kinte-cloth pillbox hat mumia fans aren’t going to get two feet trying to convince anyone to un-ass several BILLION dollars, with the weak shit I’ve seen bandied about here. 1999 ["Redleg" (jgriffin@qadas.com)] Usenet: alt.war.vietnam (Dec. 16) “Re: Vietnam F.A.Q.”: Move it. Move it. Move it! Unass my chow line. 2004 [DonLampson@webtv.net] Usenet: rec.outdoors.rv-travel (Sept. 23) “Re: OT—Should we remain in the UN”: Trying to unass the 3rd world leader of it because we don’t like him sure would be “sending a message” to the rest of the world “community,” wouldn’t it? 2004 Argghhh! (Nov. 14) “Monteith provides this dope about the Ferret”: The Saracen swapped the engine from the rear to front for reasons of easy debussing (dismounting, “un-assing’ in US miltary parlance) by the PBI (Poor Bloody Infantry) carried in the back area.

Posted 17 Nov 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

This term was in use in the Army in the ‘50’s. I first heard it in 1955, when its meaning was “get up off of” as in: “Un-ass that chair!/rack!/bench!” etc.

by hwgray 01 Sep 05, 0216 GMT