Gom jabbar

The Gom Jabbar is a fictional device appearing in Frank Herbert's Dune universe. According to the Dune novel, the Gom Jabbar is "The high-handed enemy; that specific poison needle tipped with meta-cyanide used by Bene Gesserit Proctors in the death-alternative test of human awareness." Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam used one to test Paul Atreides just prior to his departure to Arrakis.

The term can be used to describe a nemesis, 'meet the Atreides Gom Jabbar' says Paul Muad'dib to Helen Mohiam, referring to himself with regard to him being a creation of the Bene Gesserit that they failed to bring to heel.