Toaster
/TOH-ster/ noun (slur)
≈ “N-word / Racial slur”
A racial slur used by humans to dehumanize Cylons, reducing sentient beings to household appliances.
“Frakking toasters. Can't trust a single one of them.”— Various Colonial officers
Etymology
Derived from the fact that Cylons are machines. Reduces sentient beings to kitchen appliances. The compound 'toaster lover' parallels real-world slurs for those in interracial relationships.
Usage History
BSG reboot (2003-2009). Not present in the 1978 original, which predated this particular human-Cylon dynamic.
Taboo Trajectory
Scholar Wanda Raiford drew direct parallels between 'toaster' and real-world dehumanizing slurs, noting the show used it to explore how language enables prejudice. By series end, characters who still used it were implicitly criticized.
Semantic Drift Timeline
Grew more loaded as humanoid Cylons were revealed — calling someone who looks human a 'toaster' became increasingly cruel and absurd simultaneously.
Regional Notes
Used across all Twelve Colonies. The compound 'frakking toasters' combines both key BSG expletives.