Gom jabbar
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The gom jabbar is a fictional device appearing in Frank Herbert's Dune universe. According to Terminology of the Imperium, the glossary of the novel the Dune, the gom jabbar is "The high-handed enemy; that specific poison needle tipped with meta-cyanide used by Bene Gesserit Proctors in the death-alternative test of human awareness."
In Dune, Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam uses a gom jabbar to test Paul Atreides just prior to his departure to Arrakis. This "humanity test" is carried out with a box that produces pain by nerve induction, causing severe pain that is strictly psychological. Only a human is considered to be able to withstand the urge to take the hand out of the box. Any person who does withdraw their hand is stung with the gom jabbar, causing instant death.
Later in the novel, Paul's sister Alia uses the "Atreides gom jabbar" to kill the evil Baron Vladimir Harkonnen.
[edit] Origin of the term
The origin of the first part "gom" does not seem to be clear. It might come from Arabic qaum which can be pronounced in dialects, especially the Egyptian one, as "gom". This means mass, specifically a mass of people. In the Egyptian dialect it denotes as well a heap of soil or a mound. Derivatives of the root QWM, can mean something which stands up (qā'im), resistance (muqāwama) or pillar (qiwām). In Frank Herbert's application of Arabic it might be the tool, the needle, which stands straight against something.
The second part "jabbar" comes clearly from Arabic word "jabbār", the one who uses coercion to force something. "jabr" means coercion. Coercion is exactly what the "gom jabbar" should achieve in the Dune universe.
[edit] Gom jabbar in popular culture
In the Massive Multiplayer Online Game, World of Warcraft, a trinket named "Jom Gabbar" can be found after killing Ouro the Sandworm in the Temple of Ahn'Qiraj (A 40 man raid instance located in Silithus, a desert region) [1][2]. The device is also referenced to in the The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy episode "My Fair Mandy". In the episode, Mandy's nemesis, Mindy, is subjected to the test as part of a beauty contest that both are taking part in. She claims that "It burns!" and withdraws her hand, only to lose points from the judges. In the webcomic Questionable Content, main character Faye uses the term "Mom Jabbar" to describe the experience of a dinner with her roommate's particularly intimidating mother.[3]
