BEM

See also: bem

English

Noun

BEM (plural BEMs)

1. British Empire Medal

Etymology 2

Acronym of bug-eyed monster.

Alternative forms

• bem

Noun

BEM (plural BEMs)

1. (science fiction, fandom slang, often derogatory) A stock character in science fiction; a grotesque creature, often an extraterrestrial, that menaces the protagonists.
   • 1940 November, Parmer Farrell, “The Reader Speaks”, in Thrilling Wonder Stories, volume 18, number 2, page 120:

     Incidentally, Mr. Bergey, the BEM's on your latest smear have extremely jovial expressions on their pans to be as tough a bunch of eggs as Friend made them out.

   • 1997, Lawrence Miles, Alien Bodies, →ISBN, page 89:

     This is my first time in active BEM service. They've never let me near the Bugs before.

Derived terms

• Bim, BEM, Bum

References

• Jeff Prucher, editor (2007), “BEM”, in Brave New Words: The Oxford Dictionary of Science Fiction, Oxford, Oxfordshire, New York, N.Y.: Oxford University Press, →ISBN, pages 14–15.
• Template:R:OED SF

Anagrams

• B.M.E., BME, EBM, MBE, MEB, emb.