Thread by @asorohanart

Tracing the origin of the term "Combiners". It starts with g1 tech specs where "Combines with x to form x" was a standard phrase. Although as you can see from Hot Spot's bio it wasn't universal. There's no universal term for them in G1 at all #transformers (1/10)

There are a few official terms for certain kinds of combiners in Generation 1. "Special Teams" Appears to have been the intended term for the scramble-style combiners in the US, and was used extensively in the UK. #transformers (2/10)

There's a gap here in my knowledge -- I haven't gone back through Marvel comics and checked for the term combine (which does appear) or combiner (which I don't think appears). Here's some examples of how combiners are referred to, but it's not definitive. #transformers (3/10)

The term Combiner was first applied officially (as far as I can tell) not to merge groups but to the Micromaster Combiners. They combine in vehicle mode and can mix and match. Japanese Micromasters that merged into giant robots were called "Six teams" #transformers (4/10)

After this the term combiner kinda pops in in Generation 2, in the G2 Comics. The term used here is, "Fusilateral Quintrocombiner" Meanwhile Onslaught's packaging doesn't even use the term "Combine" anywhere let alone "Combiner". #transformers (5/10)

Similarly during Beast Wars the two combiners released don't use the word combine or combiners anywhere on their packaging (Except Tripredacus' tech spec). They use the term "Super Robot", though. #transformers (6/10)

In the fandom the term combiner WAS used. The terms "Merge Group", "Gestalt" and "Combiner" were used pretty interchangeably and can be seen in conversations on ATT. Here's a thread from 1996, where they're all used: groups.google.com/g/alt.toys.tra… (7/10) #transformers

The use of the term "Combiner" in the fandom probably goes right back to the beginning, But the fact that other terms were used simultaneously shows there was a gap there -- a hole waiting to be filled with an official term. #transformers (8/10)

With only 2 combiners in Beast Wars (outside of Japan) and none in Beast Machines we finally, finally, got an official term in 2001 with RiD. RiD finally used the term "Combiner" And applied it to Rail Racer, Ruination and Landfill. #transformers (9/10)

Ultra Magnus and Optimus Prime were not given a "Combiner" logo on their packaging, though the packaging describes them as "Combining". But whatever the case RiD finally gave us our definitive term -- COMBINERS. #transformers (10/10)