[ Models | Lore | Sources | Inspiration ]
With a rich background stretching back decades in time, the various Warhammer games contain a vast array of names (of people, places, items, and so on). Many of these names are original, but some happen to have a meaning in the real world, as obscure terms, foreign words, or cultural references. This page lists some of these underlying etymologies for your edification. Note that some of these are best guesses (speculative fan theory) rather than confirmed derivations.
Where a name is followed by the symbol ¹, if you hover over or click on that symbol you will see when that name was first mentioned in a publication.
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Atomic | "Atomic", relating to atoms. But this is a specific reference to the atomics (nuclear weapons) of Dune (1965), a novel by Frank Herbert. [WH40k Imperial Weapon] |
| Bubblechukka ¹ | "Bubble", a liquid sphere containing a gas + "chucker", one that throws. Note that it pre-dates the pointer machine from the computer game Puzzle Bobble (1994). [WH40k Ork Weapon] |
| Chainsword ¹ | Blend of "chainsaw" (power tool with a moving chain of metal teeth) and "sword" (long-bladed hand weapon). [WH40k Imperial Eldar Weapon] |
| Chronometron ¹ | "Chronometer", a device for measuring time. [WH40k Necron Weapon] |
| Gauss ¹ | Carl Friedrich Gauss (1777-1855), a mathematician and physicist. [WH40k Necron Weapon] |
| Gnosis | Ancient Greek γνῶσις, "knowledge". [WH40k Imperial Custodes Weapon] |
| Inferno Pistol ¹ | Originally the Inferno Pistol was available only to Commander Dante of the Blood Angels. This makes Dante's Inferno Pistol a reference to Dante's Inferno, part of the epic poem Divine Comedy (14th century). [WH40k Imperial SpaceMarine BloodAngels Weapon] |
| Julbrinna ¹ | Yul Brynner (1920-1985), an actor whose roles included the lead in The Magnificent Seven (1960). [WHFB Norscan Weapon] |
| Lasgun ¹ | Blend of "laser" (intense light beam) and "gun" (firearm). This is a specific reference to the lasguns of Dune (1965), a novel by Frank Herbert. [WH40k Imperial Weapon] |
| Marotter | Blend of marotte and "rotter". [AoS WH40k Chaos Nurgle Weapon] |
| Misericordia | Latin misericordia, "mercy". [WH40k Imperial AdeptusCustodes Weapon] |
| Onager Gauntlet | Onager, a Roman siege weapon + "gauntlet", hand armour. [WH40k Tau Weapon] |
| Ratling Gun | Blend of rat and Gatling gun. [WHFB AoS Chaos Skaven Weapon] |
| Somnus Blade | Somnus, god of sleep in Roman mythology + "blade", sharp cutting edge. [WH40k Imperial SistersofSilence Weapon] |
| Tesla ¹ | Nikola Tesla (1856-1943), an inventor and futurist. [WH40k Necron Weapon] |
| Thudd gun | Onomatopoeic from the sound of its projectiles. [WH40k Imperial ImperialGuard Weapon] |
| Voltaic Staff ¹ | Alessandro Volta (1745-1827), a physicist and chemist that pioneered work in electricity. [WH40k Necron Weapon] |
| Inspiration | |
| Warhammer Setting | The Dark Tongue; Daemonic Names; Lexicon; Short Stories; Cut-ups; Cool Stuff |
| Art | Golden Demon; Nurglesque Music |
| Speculation | Chaos God Correspondence; Dark Heresy Backgrounds; Sevenfold Path; Sevenrot; Seven Deadly Sins |
| Real World References | Nergal in Mesopotamian History; Symbolism of Three Circles; Symbolism of Seven |
dedicated to the Regent Most Vile