Dictionary

Vulcan salute en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌvʌl.kən səˈlut/ (General-American)
• /ˌvʌl.kən səˈl(j)uːt/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Vulcan (“inhabitant of the fictional planet Vulcan in the television series Star Trek”) + salute. The gesture was devised by the American actor Leonard Nimoy (1931–2015), who portrayed the half-Vulcan character Spock in the television series Star Trek (originally broadcast 1966–1969); he first used it in “Amok Time”, the first episode of the second season aired on September 15, 1967.

Meanings

1. A gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans, consisting of a raised hand with the palm forward and the thumb extended, and the fingers parted between the middle finger and ring finger.
   • [W]e found a stalwart model [of glove]: Kombi's Lobster, a high-tech marvel with a unique clawlike design. […] The split-finger design combines the warmth of a mitten with added dexterity, making it easier for riders to grip their boards. As a bonus, it also lets them give other riders the split-finger Vulcan salute, just like Mr. Spock on the original Star Trek. 1995 March–April, Bill Grout, “Trial Run”, in Rick Kahl, editor, Skiing, volume 47, number 7, New York, N.Y.: Times Mirror Magazines, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 24, column 2:
   • [B]oth he {George Takei} and [Grace Lee] Whitney […] waved and offered Vulcan salutes to the fans assembled to the south, while also doing their due diligence for the professional photographers to the north. 2019, Sherilyn Connelly, “Prologue: Star Trek—The MacArthur Premiere”, in The First Star Trek Movie: Bringing the Franchise to the Big Screen, 1969–1980, Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, →ISBN, page 20:
   • They may exchange Vulcan salutes in greeting as a sign of in-group status—the in-group being Star Trek fans rather than Vulcans. 2005, Henry Bial, “Fiddling on the Roof, 1964–1971”, in Acting Jewish: Negotiating Ethnicity on the American Stage & Screen, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan Press, →ISBN, page 69:
   • Hang on: You are being beamed to one of those Star Trek conventions, where grownups greet each other with the Vulcan salute and offer in reverent tones to pay $100 for the autobiography of Leonard Nimoy. 1986 December 22, Charles Leerhsen, “Star Trek’s Nine Lives”, in Newsweek, New York, N.Y.: Newsweek, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 66; quoted in Henry Jenkins III, “Star Trek Rerun, Reread, Rewritten: Fan Writing as Textual Poaching”, in Constance Penley, Elisabeth Lyon, Lynn Spigel, Janet Bergstrom, editors, Close Encounters: Film, Feminism, and Science Fiction (A Camera Obscura Book), Minneapolis, Minn.: University of Minnesota Press, 1991 (1993 printing), →ISBN, page 171:
   • Ooh! The Vulcan Salute! It is easy! [She demonstrates the Vulcan Salute again.] Peace and long life. Y'all supposed to respond back to me with; "Live long and prosper." 2017, Nicholas H. Kovacs, She Wants to Dance with Me: A Script for a Theatrical Play, [Morrisville, N.C.]: [Lulu.com], →ISBN, scene vi, page 35:
   • For what would soon become known as the Vulcan salute, I borrowed a hand signal from Orthodox Judaism. During the High Holiday services, the Kohanim (who are the priests) bless those in attendance. As they do, they extend the palms of both hands over the congregation, with thumbs outstretched and the middle and ring fingers parted so that each hand forms two vees. This gesture symbolizes the Hebrew letter shin, the first letter in the word Shaddai; in the Jewish Qabala, shin also represents eternal Spirit. 1995-10, Leonard Nimoy, “Vulcanalia or The Vulcan Grows Up”, in I Am Spock, New York, N.Y.: Hyperion, →ISBN, pages 67–68:
   • Sarek turned to the others, now offering the Vulcan salute. "Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy, may you live long and prosper." / "Thank you, and the same to you, Mr. Ambassador," said Kirk, managing to force his hand into the proper position. [1984 November, Jean Lorrah, chapter 3, in The Vulcan Academy Murders (Star Trek; 20), New York, N.Y.: Pocket Books, →ISBN, page 22:

Forms

Relateds

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Translations (27)

de Vulkanier-Gruß (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · it saluto vulcaniano (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · uk вулканський салют (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · ia salute vulcan (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · de Grußgeste der Vulkanier (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · he הצדעה וולקנית (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · eu Vulkaniar agur (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · ko 벌컨 인사 (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · cmn 瓦肯舉手禮 /瓦肯举手礼 (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · az Vulkan salamı (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · es saludo vulcano (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · eo Vulkana saluto (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · hy Վուլկանյան ողջույն (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · tr Vulcan selamı (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · fr salut vulcain (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · pt saudação vulcana (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · cs Vulkánský pozdrav (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · ml വൾക്കൻ സല്യൂട്ട് (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · sv Vulcanhälsning (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · nl Vulcaanse groet (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · mk ву́лкански по́здрав (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · fi vulkanuslainen tervehdys (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · ru Вулканский салю́т (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · pl salut wolkański (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · hu vulkáni köszöntés (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · uk вулканське привіта́ння (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans) · ca salutació vulcaniana (gesture of greeting among Star Trek fans)

wikipedia: Leonard Nimoy · wikipedia: Phoenix Comicon · wikipedia: Amok Time · wikipedia: Star Trek: The Original Series · wikipedia: International Space Station · wikipedia: Samantha Cristoforetti · wikipedia: Spock