astro-boffin

astro-boffin

English

Etymology

astro- +‎ boffin

Noun

astro-boffin (plural astro-boffins)

1. (Britain, Australia, informal) An expert in a field relating to the stars, especially astronomy.
   • 2006, Jonathan Green, "Know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em", The Age, 19 August 2006:

     Perhaps while confirming the diminution of Pluto's status, the astro-boffins might like to consider a name change for the U-planet.

   • 2007, Mark Kermode, "2007: a scorching new space odyssey", The Observer, 25 March 2007:

     Space travel turns into a journey to hell. 'I created the Event Horizon to reach the stars!' burbles Sam Neill's astro-boffin. 'But she's gone much further than that - to a dimension of pure chaos, pure evil!'

   • 2008, Andy McNab, "Let's make-up", 4men, 10 April 2008:

     'The birth of new galaxies' - I'll produce unlimited copy, that'll leave the entire astro-boffin community scratching their heads in disbelief as they're forced to re-evaluate the whole time/space continuum...

   • For more examples of usage of this term, see Citations:astroboffin.