Dr. Leonard McCoy had a hilarious nickname in Star Trek: The Original Series which is almost forgotten (& it isn’t ‘Bones’)

We all know Dr. Leonard McCoy by his legendary nickname "Bones"—gruff, wisecracking, no-nonsense chief medical officer of the USS Enterprise. Yet there's another, much less familiar nickname hidden in the first seasons of Star Trek: The Original Series—one that fans never speak of. It wasn't official Starfleet terminology, and it was never uttered by his fellow crew members. But it was said in one of the very earliest episodes, spoken with an undertone of nostalgia and personal warmth.

The nickname in question? "Plum." That's right—"Plum." Though the name may seem more appropriate for a basket of fruit than a starship, it has a precise and intensely personal origin. The nickname first appeared in "The Man Trap," the first episode of Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS), and was applied by McCoy's former lover, Nancy Crater. Though never again used, its brief appearance has made it one of the most obscure pieces of trivia in the world of Star Trek—and is never referenced in Star Trek: Enterprise, the later prequel series that frequently nods to early canon.

The nickname "Plum" began in "The Man Trap"

The only time "Plum" was mentioned in official Star Trek canon was in the episode "The Man Trap." Nancy Crater, who had at one point been romantically interested in McCoy, addresses him as "Plum" when they meet again. But the actual twist here is that this reunion is not actually a reunion. Nancy had been murdered before the events of the episode, and the woman talking to McCoy is actually the M-113 shapeshifting creature taking on her form and memories.

Nancy's use of "Plum" was offered as a term of endearment of their shared history. It was not a name applied by any of McCoy's fellow crew members, nor a nickname that carried beyond their shared history. The script provided no greater insight into it—no joke from when they were together, no history, just a peek at a more tender part of McCoy's history.

The name was personal, not a crew-wide reference

Notably, the nickname wasn't ever applied by Captain Kirk or any other crewman of the Enterprise. Though Kirk knew about McCoy's history with Nancy and even playfully teased him about it on occasion, he never called McCoy "Plum." Its use was isolated and private, and written specifically to add emotional resonance to McCoy's relationship with Nancy (or, in this case, the creature masquerading as her).

In contrast to some more popular recasting, "Plum" was never said in "The Naked Time" or indeed any other hyper-emotional episode. It was a tiny detail carefully written in to say something about McCoy's weaknesses—and then left alone forever.

It was always in the script

There is no proof to suggest that "Plum" was an improvisation or in-joke between cast members. It was included in Nancy Crater's lines in the final shooting script of the episode. The thought that William Shatner or other actors came up with the name on the fly is incorrect. All of its inclusion was scripted and calculated to support the emotional level of the episode.

With its single-use mention and sole private nature, the nickname never found its way into franchise lore. Later series, such as Star Trek: Enterprise, which often referenced TOS storylines and characters, never discussed it. Indeed, "Plum" vanished from Star Trek canon entirely after that one line in "The Man Trap."

Why "Plum" was forgotten

There are a number of reasons why "Plum" didn't catch on the way "Bones" did. To begin with, "Bones" was directly connected to McCoy's job, taken from the ancient slang "sawbones," which was applied to a doctor. It was used consistently in the original series and went on to become the character's default nickname in all iterations of Star Trek, including the movies and rebooted continuities.

"Plum," however, did not have any discernible meaning or professional application. It existed for only one romantic relationship and never had a supporting use elsewhere. In a franchise as large as Star Trek, where nicknames such as "Scotty" and "Bones" became part of the popular culture, "Plum" was too specialized and too particular to one episode to be remembered.

"Plum" as a minor but memorable footnote

While "Plum" has no bearing on the ongoing storylines of Star Trek, it is a pleasant, if mostly forgotten, aside in the franchise's long and storied history. It touches on a less-seen aspect of McCoy—one of emotion, recollection, and vulnerability. It is also an otherwise infrequent moment of personal closeness for a show commonly based in exploration, obligation, and reason.

Trending

In the overall timeline–Star Trek: Enterprise included–there's never been any re-establishment of the nickname. But for viewers going back and watching the series again with a keen eye, "Plum" is one of those little secrets: not necessary, not definitive, but well worth remembering.

Also read: Three years after Star Trek: Enterprise, Mark Moses and Vaughn Armstrong reunited for this period drama (& fans might have forgotten it)

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