The Latin motto on our Entry badge Quam Celerrime has been the subject of discussion over a beer or two at recent reunions in that the spelling is incorrect.
Coincidentally this motto is also used by 27 Squadron RAF and the Chilean Air Force in the form "Quam Celerrime Ad Astra" which translates as "With greatest speed to the stars", so our bit seemingly means ‘with greatest speed’.
To put the record straight I did some research and found that there are two spellings of Celerrime/Celerimme with slightly different meanings.
Quam is a modifier meaning ‘than’.
Celerrime (our spelling)
Adverb of the verb celeriter (quick or swift) meaning as quickly.
Websters dictionary shows it as:
Having or showing quickness of mind
Example: a quick lad, he immediately caught on
to how the machinery operated
Synonyms: alert, brainy, bright, brilliant, clever, exceptional, fast, hyperintelligent,
keen, nimble, quick, quick-witted, sharp, sharp-witted, smart, supersmart, ultrasmart
Related: apt, ingenious, resourceful; acute, astute, discerning, heady, insightful,
knowing, perceptive, percipient, perspicacious, sagacious, sapient, savvy, wise;
cerebral, erudite, genial, highbrow, knowledgeable, learned, literate, scholarly,
well-read; educated, informed, schooled, skilled, trained; creative, inventive, judicious,
prudent, sage, sane, sapient, sensible, sound, wise; crafty, cunning, foxy, shrewd,
wily; logical, rational, reasonable.
When used with Quam it broadly means As quickly as possible - ASAP.
Celerimme (possible spelling)
Superlative form of the verb celeriter - quickest or swiftest.
When used with Quam it means The quickest.
Conclusion
Our spelling is correct and is appropriate to us, either just as ASAP or as in the above example from Websters - a quick minded lad.
The 27 Sqdn and Chilean AF spelling/translation is also broadly correct - i.e. As quickly as possible to the stars.
