Summary
No matter whichStar Trekuniverse they’re in, Captain Kirk always refers to Doctor McCoy by the affectionate nickname “Bones”, but where does the nickname come from? Memorably played by DeForest Kelley inStar Trek: The Original Series, Doctor McCoy’s acerbic wit was the perfect counterpoint to both William Shatner’s charismatic Captain Kirk and Leonard Nimoy’s deadpan Spock. So iconic were this trio and the rest of theStar Trek: TOScast, that they were recast as part of J.J. Abrams' major Hollywood reboot in 2009. Of this recast ensemble, Karl Urban’s Doctor McCoy truly stood out from the crowd.
Kirk and McCoy were close friends, and the affectionate Bones nickname emphasizes their easy rapport with each other. The personal history of Kirk’s nickname forDoctor “Bones” McCoywas given an alternate telling in the 2009Star Trekmovie, which depicted Chris Pine’s Kirk and Karl Urban’s McCoy meeting each other for the first time. The primeStar Trektimelineis yet to depict this historic meeting, but there may be a chance to show Paul Wesley’s James T. Kirk dubbing a young Leonard McCoy “Bones” in a future episode ofStar Trek: Strange New Worlds.
Every Time Star Trek’s Dr. McCoy Said “I’m A Doctor, Not A…”
A look at every time the distinguished and much-loved Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy used his famous “I’m a doctor, not a …” catchphrase in Star Trek.
Why Captain Kirk Calls Dr. McCoy “Bones” In Star Trek
The reason that Captain Kirk calls Doctor McCoy “Bones” inStar Trek: The Original Seriescan be traced back toGene Roddenberry’s original visionfor the show.Star Trekwas pitched as “Wagon Train to the stars”, in reference to the popular 1950s TV show set in the Wild West.Wagon Trainwas set soon after the end of the American Civil War, at a time whenphysicians, specifically surgeons, were referred to as “sawbones”. This nickname derived from the grisly work that was required of civil war surgeons, who often had to remove wounded and diseased limbs with saws.
Future Spock actor Leonard Nimoy guest starred in four episodes ofWagon Train, playing four different characters.
Civil War sawbones had to work in settings that were a far cry from the sterile environment of the starship Enterprise’s sickbay, hence the irony of McCoy’s nickname. Kirk’s shortening of sawbones Bones is likely a reflection of his interest in military history. However, it’s worth pointing out the term had been used to describe surgeons for decades before the Civil War.As Kirk is also a bit of a book nerd, he would know thatCharles Dickens is the first author believed to have used the term, in his 1836 novel,The Pickwick Papers.
J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Changed Why McCoy Called “Bones”
J.J. Abrams' 2009Star Trekmovie gave a far less evocative and interesting reason why Chris Pine’s Captain Kirk called Karl Urban’s Doctor McCoy “Bones”. Where William Shatner’s Captain Kirk was revealed to have a reputation as a bookworm at Starfleet Academy, Chris Pine’s version was too busy flirting and getting into fights. Perhaps this is why the “Bones” nickname inStar Trekdoesn’t derive from the history of medicine and instead refers to Doctor McCoy’s ugly divorce, as he explains that his ex-wife:
“…took the whole damn planet in the divorce, […] all I have left are my bones.”
This was one of the first things that McCoy says to Kirk when they meet en-route to Starfleet Academy, and the nickname was solidified during their three years of study together. It’s a half-decent joke, but it doesn’t have the deeper meaning and recognizable history that the Bones nickname had inStar Trek: The Original Series. Thankfully, Karl Urban’s performance as Bones in all three of J.J. Abrams’Star Trekmovies were so good that you forget the facile origins of the nickname.
Star Trek 2009 Cast & Character Guide
J.J. Abrams' Star Trek relaunched the movie franchise and reintroduced audiences to Captain Kirk and the crew of the USS Enterprise.
Will Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Explain Why McCoy Is Called “Bones”?
It’s hoped that Doctor McCoy may appear inStar Trek: Strange New Worlds, shedding light on his friendship with a young Lieutenant James T. Kirk (Paul Wesley). Nothing has been officially announced, but fans have their own list ofactors to playBones inStrange New Worlds, and his debut does feel inevitable. WhetherSNWwill retain the idea that Kirk and McCoy have been friends since the Academy or take a different tack remains to be seen. However, Doctor McCoy’sStrange New Worldsdebut may officially reveal why Kirk calls his old friend Bones.
The connection between McCoy’s profession and the Bones nickname was never explicitly made on-screen, asStar Trekaudiences would be well versed in the sawbones archetype from countless cowboy shows and the history of the American Civil War. Decades later, Paul Wesley’s Kirk may make this connection between Doctor McCoy and the civil war sawbones more overt, as the 2020s audience may be less aware of the history. If they do explain it, we can only hope thatStar Trek: Strange New Worldsretains the evocative reasoning that links the starship Enterprise’s chief medical officer with the history of medicine.
