How is it that the term, "torpedo" is mostly considered a self-propelled bomb? The etymology seems to be from "torpor," which suggests just the opposite of motion.

quote:

a. L. torpēdo stiffness, numbness, also the cramp-fish or electric ray, f. torpēre to be stiff or numb; = Sp., Pg. torpedo, It. torpedine. Cf. F. torpille, It. torpiglia from the same verb.

Interesting. So the first use was for the fish:

quote:

1. a. A flat fish of the genus Torpedo or family Torpedinidæ, having an almost circular body with tapering tail, and characterized by the faculty of emitting electric discharges; the electric ray; also called cramp-fish, cramp-ray, numb-fish.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: goofy,

This was an interesting site on the etymology of torpedo. It also talks about the fish use, but then about the naval use: link

quote:

In naval usage, the term "torpedo" was first used by Robert Fulton who used the word for the towed gunpowder charge used by his submarine Nautilus in 1800–1805 to demonstrate that it could sink warships.

While primarily thought of in naval terms, it is not exckusive to them. See this on a mine-clearing device called a Bangalore torpedo;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangalore_torpedo
It is also a synonym for a sandwich known variously as a grinder or hoagie--a sandwich on a roll that Italian workmen ate, consisting of meat, cheese and maybe salad fixin's.