fall-out, n.
[f. vbl. phr. fall out: see fall v. 94.]
Radioactive refuse of a nuclear bomb explosion; the process of deposition of such refuse. Also attrib., Comb., transf., and fig.
| [1946 Effects of Atomic Bombs at Hiroshima (Home Office) vi. 15 The fall of a small fraction of the radioactive fission products.] 1950 Effects of Atomic Weapons 35 When the violence of the disturbance due to the bomb has subsided, the contaminated dirt particles gradually fall back to earth, giving rise to the phenomenon known as the fall-out. 1952 N.Y. Times 17 Aug. E9/6 Nevertheless, a good deal of radioactive stuff is picked up and carried by the wind and deposited all over the country... So far there have been no dangerous concentrations of radioactive ‘fall-out’, as it is called, that is outside of the proving grounds in Nevada. 1954 Time 20 Dec. 66/3 The most recent H-bomb test (by the Russians) was made in Siberia about three months ago, but the fall⁓out of fear and worry that the H-bomb tests have caused has by no means died away. 1955 Times 19 July 8/5 An hour after the explosion, radio-active ‘fall-out’ material would be dropping 20 miles away. 1957 Economist 5 Oct. 16/2 A temporary cessation within the Labour party of personal bomb explosions and consequent deadly fall-out. 1961 Guardian 16 Sept. 7/1 Fallout-laden clouds. 1961 John o' London's 28 Sept. 345/1 The make-it-yourself fallout shelter. 1964 Listener 3 Dec. 865/2 The wasteful method of technical fall-out, of just hoping for ideas to seep through. 1965 Sunday Times (Colour Suppl.) 31 Oct. 35/1 After the a.d. 79 eruption this fallout [of ashes, etc.] buried Pompeii in a matter of hours. 1969 Times 2 Sept. 10/3 Two Japanese fishermen died after fall-out had reached their vessel. |