Verb
English: sterilize
German: sterilisieren
Source: TKD-A (185 KE, 190 EK)
KLCP Level: 3
Notes
(Lieven, 6/23/2019): You should also know the background story of this word, which was created only by accident based on a line-slip ...
(KLI WiKi re: woj): An old error from the "official charghwI' list" at the KLI web site. A list of new vocabulary from Marc Okrand was printed in HQ 1.3:9. Among these new words were "sterilize" Say'qu'moH and, directly after that, "radiation" woj. "Radiation" also appeared as woj in the Addendum of TKD. At some point, someone compiled a relatively complete list of vocabulary; however, in this list, the word "sterilize" was accidentally recorded as woj. Sometime before the publication of KGT Okrand was given a copy of this list. Up to this point he hadn't kept the Klingon vocabulary in one single list, so a compiled list was quite helpful. Unfortunately when the vocabulary list for KGT was created, the erroneous definition of "sterilize" was used from the vocabulary list that (the aforementioned someone) compiled. Thus, according to KGT, the word for "sterilize" is woj.
(ghunchu'wI'): I always thought woj did make a reasonable verb, though -- irradiate or something similar seems okay for sterilize. … [i.e.] killing pathogens, not rendering someone incapable of producing offspring! It's intended as a cleaning or food preservation term.
("Paul"): Irradiation is one possible way to sterilize things. Some meats are now being irradiated during the packaging process…
(De’vID, 6/23/2019): I imagine that this is the "in-universe" origin of the homophony of the verb and noun woj: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irradiation#Sterilization
And finally, for those interested, some examples of Say'moH:
DaH jIbwIj vISay'nISmoH
I must wash my hair now. (PK)
yoHbogh matlhbogh je SuvwI' Say'moHchu' may' 'Iw
The blood of battle washes clean the warrior brave and true. (Anthem)
tIqDu'vam tuHqu' Say'moHchu'jaj bIQtIqvam
May these waters wash clean these hearts, blackened with shame. (PB)
Usage for woj
labmeH 'evnagh Se' tlhIngan QumwI'. janmey ngo' lulo'lu'DI' pIj jabbI'ID nISpu' woj.
A Klingon communicator sends a signal through subspace radio. Older models were susceptible to radiation.
Type: skybox card - Source: {QumwI' - Klingon Communicator (S19)