# Clicks? Military unit of distance? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 30, 2002, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572 "2002-07-30T18:27:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![FordPrefect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e99b99/32.png) [@FordPrefect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordPrefect)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/21 "2002-07-31T18:14:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cerowyn \* > \*\*This is only anecdotal, but FWIW: > > When I first heard the term “clicks,” it was only applied to speed. That is, “100 clicks” was “100 km/h.” I was told a (perhaps apocryphal) story that it was derived from the clicking of a speedometer. More recently, I’ve heard the term used for distance, in place of kilometres, as well. \*\* This is how it is used by people around me here in central Canada. For example, “I was only driving 50 klicks over the speed limit when the copper flashed his lights, it took him 4 kays to catch up with me and boy was he mad.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2002, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/22 "2002-07-31T23:47:27Z")
“Klick” is easier to say, it’s only a one-syllable word, compared to “killo-meter” or “kil-LOM-met-ter.” You’ll hear “K” used as well (remember the 10-Kay zone around the Iron Curtain?), but a single consonant sound can be confused with so many OTHER single consonant sounds. That’s why the military has “Alfa, Bravo, Charlie, Delta” for the letters of the alphabet. It’s been my observation that countries that actually USE the metric system call 'em “killo-meters,” while we stupid yay-who Yankees call 'em “kil-LOM-met-ters.” Besides, you NEVER ask why the military does something. Sheesh, people! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Tripler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripler/32/21807_2.png) [@Tripler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tripler)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2002, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/23 "2002-08-01T05:47:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by VOW \* > \*\*Besides, you NEVER ask why the military does something. Sheesh, people! > \*\* Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Tripler About damn time someone realized this. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Paull\_Karll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/848f3c/32.png) [@Paull\_Karll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paull_Karll)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/24 "2016-04-19T17:13:20Z")
You know - if you all would have “listened” to yourselves. Phonetic alphabet use says “kilo” - you wouldn’t WANT to also say kilo or kilometer. It would be too confusing over radio traffic. The one meter thing is true! Ranging on maps and on compasses are in kilometers. Early on, it was discovered that the metric system made more sense in certain measurements. A “click” on a site took the round a specific amount over or up. 1mm over at 1 meter does translate to 1 meter over at one kilometer! It’s a much more linear system than miles or feet! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/25 "2016-04-19T18:14:10Z")
> [@Paull\_Karll](#): > > You know - if you all would have “listened” to yourselves. > Phonetic alphabet use says “kilo” - you wouldn’t WANT to also say kilo or kilometer. It would be too confusing over radio traffic. The one meter thing is true! Ranging on maps and on compasses are in kilometers. Early on, it was discovered that the metric system made more sense in certain measurements. A “click” on a site took the round a specific amount over or up. 1mm over at 1 meter does translate to 1 meter over at one kilometer! It’s a much more linear system than miles or feet! Except that as was establish here already using click for kilometer started at least in the early 50s and possibly much later. The military was still using “king” for the letter k officially until the late 50s and unofficially until much later. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/26 "2016-04-19T18:26:39Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Bill Bryon says the word originated in Vietnam: > > from _Made in America_ > > The OED offers no help on the matter. It appears to me that, despite Bryson’s orthography, “klick” or “klik” is the more recognized spelling of the word. > > As to the origin of the term? Other sites seem to collaborate with Bryson’s statement that the Vietnam War mothered this bit of military slang. As to why? I’d guess “klick” is simply a variation on “kilometer.” I don’t think it has to do with clicking of any kind, though I may be wrong. It sure has a better ring than something like “kloms” or “kays” or anything else you can come up with using only the letters in the word. I learned long ago never to trust Bryson. He’s entertaining, but I wouldn’t use him as a primary reference. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/27 "2016-04-19T19:35:35Z")
> [@Hemlock](#): > > Who on earth wants to use a four-syllable word to replace “mile”? Can you imagine the word “kilometer” appearing in the lyrics of a rock song or in a poem? > [@Motog](#): > > Not very often. I’ve only heard it on rare occasions. The more usual abbreviation is “kays”. I remember a song using the term ‘keys’, but it refered to kilograms, not kilometers: _Flying in a big airliner Coming into Los Angelees Bringing in a couple of keys Don’t touch my bag if you please, Mr. Customs man._ > [@pulykamell](#): > > t appears to me that, despite Bryson’s orthography, “klick” or “klik” is the more recognized spelling of the word. Alternate spellings that are pronounced the same often indicate that the word emerged in spoken communications rather than written. Something like military talk, where the word should be short, and distinctly different from other words, even over noisy transmissions. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2016, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/28 "2016-04-19T20:25:18Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It’s certainly earlier than Vietnam. Heinlein used the term “klick” in many of his books, including _Starship Troopers_, published in 1959. I think it was used in earlier books as well, but I can’t remember any specifically that used it. Joe Haldeman, a U.S. Army combat engineer during the Vietnam War, also often used “klicks” to refer to kilometers in his distant-future military sf novel _The Forever War_, published in 1974. ---
**Author:** ![svd678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@svd678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/svd678)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/29 "2016-04-20T14:43:09Z")
“bought the farm” is a lot older than Viet Nam or WWI - it refers to fraternal insurance where a death paid off the mortgage. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/30 "2016-04-20T14:49:45Z")
> [@svd678](#): > > “bought the farm” is a lot older than Viet Nam or WWI - it refers to fraternal insurance where a death paid off the mortgage. Do you have a definitive cite for that? As far as I know, the origins of this phrase are speculative. See [here.](http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/72850.html) Or [here](http://www.snopes.com/language/phrases/farm.asp), unless more evidence has recently surfaced. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/31 "2016-04-20T14:50:50Z")
> [@August\_West](#): > > I learned long ago never to trust Bryson. He’s entertaining, but I wouldn’t use him as a primary reference. Give me a break, that was 14 years ago! 🙂 I’ve long since come to the same conclusion as you. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/32 "2016-04-20T14:56:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Joe Haldeman, a U.S. Army combat engineer during the Vietnam War, also often used “klicks” to refer to kilometers in his distant-future military sf novel The Forever War, published in 1974. Yes, but we’re looking for the first citation. And one of that book’s many flaws is that it _isn’t_ distant-future. It starts in the 1980s, which means that Haldeman was positing full manned exploration of the Solar System, a practical FTL drive, radical changes in military culture, and all the rest within a mere decade. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/33 "2016-04-20T15:14:54Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > …And one of that book’s many flaws is that it _isn’t_ distant-future. It starts in the 1980s, which means that Haldeman was positing full manned exploration of the Solar System, a practical FTL drive, radical changes in military culture, and all the rest within a mere decade. By the end, due to time dilation, it’s set several hundred years from now. ---
**Author:** ![August\_West](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/august_west/32/18069_2.png) [@August\_West](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/August_West)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/34 "2016-04-20T15:47:50Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Give me a break, that was 14 years ago! 🙂 I’ve long since come to the same conclusion as you. Ha, completely missed the dates on this one! I would have trusted Bryson 14 years ago, too! ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/35 "2016-04-20T15:50:49Z")
> [@svd678](#): > > “bought the farm” is a lot older than Viet Nam or WWI - it refers to fraternal insurance where a death paid off the mortgage. No, it comes from the Bible. Acts ch1 V 17-19 _Judas was one of us and had worked with us, but he brought the mob to arrest Jesus. 18 Then Judas bought some land with the money he was given for doing that evil thing. He fell headfirst into the field. His body burst open, and all his insides came out. 19 When the people of Jerusalem found out about this, they called the place Akeldama, which in the local language means “Field of Blood.”_ NB I’m joking. This probably isn’t the origin. Someone has to invent these folk etymologies. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2016, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/36 "2016-04-20T16:47:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > It’s certainly earlier than Vietnam. Heinlein used the term “klick” in many of his books, including _Starship Troopers_, published in 1959. I think it was used in earlier books as well, but I can’t remember any specifically that used it. I did not remember any such reference in _Troopers_, and I just confirmed it with a text search on an etext. He does NOT use the term. ---
**Author:** ![OffByOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/45deac/32.png) [@OffByOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OffByOne)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/37 "2016-04-21T14:14:41Z")
> [@Sofa\_King](#): > > As an exercise to the reader, I offer the following study question. > > If a “click” is a kilometer in American military parlance, then what is a “mike”? > > (chuckle) I think the best answer might be, “the guy who makes the coffee.” Lots of other answers work just as well. From back in my doper (not THAT doper) days, I knew it a shorthand for microgram, one millionth of a gram. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2016, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/38 "2016-04-21T15:56:26Z")
> [@OffByOne](#): > > From back in my doper (not THAT doper) days, I knew it a shorthand for microgram, one millionth of a gram. In the US military “mike” is short for minutes. I’ve never heard anything else. Here is a [cite](https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-origin-of-click-klick-as-a-unit-of-distance) that goes back to 1960. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/39 "2016-04-23T01:34:58Z")
“Mike” is just short for the letter “M”, and so can stand for anything the letter can stand for. ---
**Author:** ![Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blue_blistering_barnacle/32/3386_2.png) [@Blue\_Blistering\_Barnacle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blue_Blistering_Barnacle)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2016, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572/40 "2016-04-23T02:06:57Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > I did not remember any such reference in _Troopers_, and I just confirmed it with a text search on an etext. He does NOT use the term. I just reread 'Starship Troopers", and I was certain it was in there. So I also did a text search, and yes, you are right. No “klicks” or “clicks” for units of distance. But the verb “click” sure gets used a lot, so I can see the source of confusion. He has his own slang term “click” for activating a communication channel. (And that’s without all the clicking heels and stuff- I thought that they were cloggers after I did my search.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/clicks-military-unit-of-distance/121572.md?page=3)