This article is written from an in-universe view. The described person or event is not real but is part of the Star Trek show.

Tribble

A tribble is a small, round animal with a fluffy pelt, which is distinguished by its immense reproductive ability. It is born pregnant and produces about 10 offspring in 12 hours. They have a natural aversion against klingons. (1). The Klingon name for this animal is yIH. See the word section for example phrases on ➞ yIH

Tribbles have been introduced in the episode "The Trouble with Tribbles" of Star Trek (The Original Series), the merchant Cyrano Jones gave Uhura a tribble for free, which soon caused a plague of tribbles on board the USS Enterprise, as well as the loss of the grain stored on space station K-7, where the Enterprise was currently docked. Montgomery Scott solved the tribble scourge by simply beaming them to a nearby klingon Bird of Prey.

In the animated episode "More Tribbles, More Troubles" Cyrano Jones stole a secret Klingon weapon, the "Glommer" (not-canon spelling ghIlo'meH), the only known predator of tribbles, genetically engineered by Klingons. It shows that tribbles are a scourge for Klingons as well.

In the DSN episode "Trials and Tribble-ations" a few residents of Deep Space Nine, through an accidental time travel, come into contact with tribbles, which leads to them soon inhabitating space station Deep Space Nine as well.

Klingon proverbs

The problem with tribbles can be seen in several proverbs: In the book The Klingon Way is the proverb: rut yIHmey ghom Hoch! Everyone will encounter tribbles!, on the CD Power Klingon QuvlIjDaq yIH tu'be'lu'jaj. May your coordinates be empty of tribbles..

See also

• yIH bom, a song about Tribbles

References

1 : Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Episode 5x06 "Trials and Tribble-ations"

External references

• Tribble on Memory Alpha