Etymology

Noun

1. A member of a fictitious race of extraterrestrial mutants regularly appearing in the television programme Doctor Who, known primarily for their lack of compassion and their bent on domination through extermination of other beings.

Quotations

• 1964 — David Whitaker, Doctor Who and the Daleks, ch 6 (based on the tele-script by Terry Nation)

  'But Alydon,' I persisted, 'the Daleks aren't human beings. They're just evil, half creatures, half machines, determined to destroy you.'

• 1993 — Dennis Potter. "Occupying Powers" (reprint), The Guardian, (28 Aug).

  Milne's sacking, for defending the BBC's editorial independence, has opened the way to a tyranny of the mediocre led by those Dennis Potter called the 'croak-voiced daleks', the BBC managers.

• 1997 — John Peel, War of the Daleks, ch 2

  The Daleks are the most single-minded and efficient killing creatures ever to exist. ... And they began as humanoids. They lost everything: love, fear, their consciences. They might know deep inside that they're lacking something. But instead of trying to improve themselves, they've elected to annihilate anything and anyone different to themselves. They want to remake the universe in their twisted image, so that the only living creatures within it are Daleks.

• 2001 — Steven Moffat, Coupling, series 2, episode 3 "Her Best Friend's Bottom"

  But Susan, Sally, Jane, this is a sofa. It is designed by clever scientists in such a way so as to shield the unprotected user from the risk of skin abrasions, serious head trauma, and, of course, Daleks.

• 2006 — Gareth Roberts, I Am a Dalek, ch 9

  Then the Dalek turned and picked off the other passengers one by one. It screamed... 'Exterminate! Exterminate! Exterminate!'