Doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy, the Enterprise’s Chief Medical Officer, is instantly recognizable to Star Trek fans, and so is the affectionate nickname Captain Kirk uses for him. “Bones,” as Kirk fondly calls him, is a cornerstone of the original Star Trek series and beyond. But where did this quirky moniker originate? While J.J. Abrams’ 2009 Star Trek reboot offered a modern, less impactful explanation, the true genesis of “Bones” is rooted in medical history, perfectly aligning with the character’s profession and the spirit of the original series. Let’s delve into the fascinating story behind Doctor McCoy’s famous nickname.
The “Sawbones” History: Tracing “Bones” Back to the Wild West
The classic Star Trek explanation for Kirk calling McCoy “Bones” is a nod to the historical term “sawbones.” This term, prevalent in the 19th century, particularly in the American West and during the Civil War era, was a colloquial nickname for surgeons. Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek, famously pitched the show as “Wagon Train to the stars,” drawing parallels to the popular Western TV series. This Western influence seeped into various aspects of Star Trek, including McCoy’s nickname.
“Sawbones” emerged from the often brutal realities of 19th-century medicine. Surgeons, especially during the Civil War, frequently dealt with severe injuries requiring amputation. The image of a surgeon wielding a bone saw to remove limbs became strongly associated with the profession, hence the nickname. It was a gritty, somewhat irreverent term, reflecting the often-gruesome nature of their work in less-than-sterile conditions.
Interestingly, the term “sawbones” wasn’t new to the Civil War period. Literary references predate this era, with Charles Dickens believed to be one of the first authors to use it in his 1836 novel, The Pickwick Papers. This historical context adds depth to Kirk’s use of “Bones.” As a known history enthusiast and intellectual, it’s plausible that Captain Kirk, played with bookish charm by William Shatner in The Original Series, would be aware of this historical medical term and apply it, perhaps ironically and affectionately, to his friend and Chief Medical Officer.
The 2009 Reboot’s Take: Divorce and a Planet
J.J. Abrams’ 2009 Star Trek film, while revitalizing the franchise for a new generation, offered a significantly different, and arguably less meaningful, origin for the “Bones” nickname. In this version, when Kirk, portrayed by Chris Pine, first meets McCoy, played by Karl Urban, McCoy explains the nickname comes from his recent divorce. He quips that his ex-wife “took the whole damn planet in the divorce,” leaving him with nothing but his “bones.”
This explanation is a stark departure from the historical “sawbones” origin. It’s a modern joke, fitting with the more action-oriented and contemporary tone of the rebooted films. While Karl Urban’s portrayal of McCoy was widely praised for capturing the essence of DeForest Kelley’s iconic character, this new nickname origin felt somewhat superficial compared to the richer, historically rooted meaning. It swapped a connection to medical history and a subtle layer of character depth for a quick, albeit slightly humorous, gag.
Will Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Reclaim the “Sawbones” Origin?
With the ongoing success of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, which explores the era before Kirk takes command of the Enterprise, there’s hope that the series might offer its own take on the “Bones” nickname origin. The introduction of a younger James T. Kirk, played by Paul Wesley, opens the door to depicting his early friendship with a young Doctor McCoy.
Strange New Worlds has shown a commitment to honoring the spirit of The Original Series while also appealing to contemporary audiences. This presents an opportunity to potentially revisit and solidify the “sawbones” explanation for “Bones.” Perhaps a scene could depict Kirk learning about the historical term and playfully applying it to McCoy, appreciating the subtle irony and connection to medical history.
Given that modern audiences might be less familiar with the term “sawbones” than viewers in the 1960s, Strange New Worlds could even use this as an educational moment, subtly weaving in a bit of historical context. This would not only enrich the Kirk-McCoy dynamic but also pay homage to the original intent behind the nickname, grounding it once again in the fascinating history of medicine that Gene Roddenberry initially envisioned. Ultimately, whether Strange New Worlds addresses the “Bones” origin remains to be seen, but the opportunity to restore the nickname’s historical depth and meaning within the Star Trek canon is certainly there.
