MISC. NAUTICAL TERMS EXPLAINED
Ahoy!
This old traditional greeting for hailing other vessels was
originally a Viking battle cry.
Between the Devil and the Deep
In wooden ships, the "devil" was the longest seam
of the ship. It ran from the bow to the stern. When at sea and
the "devil" had to be caulked, the sailor sat in a
bo'sun's chair to do so. He was suspended between the "devil"
and the sea - the "deep" - a very precarious position,
especially when the ship was underway.
Chewing the Fat
"God made the vittles but the devil made the cook,"
was a popular saying used by seafaring men in the 19th century
when salted beef was staple diet aboard ship.
This tough cured beef, suitable only for long voyages when
nothing else was cheap or would keep as well (remember, there
was no refrigeration), required prolonged chewing to make it
edible. Men often chewed one chunk for hours, just as it were
chewing gum and referred to this practice as "chewing the
fat."
Crow's Nest
The raven, or crow, was an essential part of the Vikings'
navigation equipment. These land-lubbing birds were carried on
aboard to help the ship's navigator determine where the closest
land lay when weather prevented sighting the shore. In cases
of poor visibility, a crow was released and the navigator plotted
a course corresponding to the bird's flight path because the
crow invariably headed towards land.
The Norsemen carried the birds in a cage secured to the top
of the mast. Later on, as ships grew and the lookout stood his
watch in a tub located high on the main mast, the name "crow's
nest" was given to this tub. While today's Navy still uses
lookouts in addition to radars, etc., the crow's nest is a thing
of the past.
Cup of Joe
Josephus Daniels (18 May 1862-15 January 1948) was appointed
Secretary of the Navy by President Woodrow Wilson in 1913. Among
his reforms of the Navy were inaugurating the practice of making
100 Sailors from the Fleet eligible for entrance into the Naval
Academy, the introduction of women into the service, and the
abolishment of the officers' wine mess. From that time on, the
strongest drink aboard Navy ships could only be coffee and over
the years, a cup of coffee became known as "a cup of Joe".
Devil to Pay
Today the expression "devil to pay" is used primarily
to describe having an unpleasant result from some action that
has been taken, as in someone has done something they shouldn't
have and, as a result, "there will be the devil to pay."
Originally, this expression described one of the unpleasant tasks
aboard a wooden ship.
The "devil" was the wooden ship's longest seam in
the hull. Caulking was done with "pay" or pitch (a
kind of tar). The task of "paying the devil" (caulking
the longest seam) by squatting in the bilges was despised by
every seaman.
Eight Bells
Aboard Navy ships, bells are struck to designate the hours
of being on watch. Each watch is four hours in length. One bell
is struck after the first half-hour has passed, two bells after
one hour has passed, three bells after an hour and a half, four
bells after two hours, and so forth up to eight bells are struck
at the completion of the four hours. Completing a watch with
no incidents to report was "Eight bells and all is well."
The practice of using bells stems from the days of the sailing
ships. Sailors couldn't afford to have their own time pieces
and relied on the ship's bells to tell time. The ship's boy kept
time by using a half-hour glass. Each time the sand ran out,
he would turn the glass over and ring the appropriate number
of bells.
Fathom
Fathom was originally a land measuring term derived from the
Anglo-Saxon word "faetm" meaning to embrace. In those
days, most measurements were based on average size of parts of
the body, such as the hand (horses are still measured this way)
or the foot (that's why 12 inches are so named). A fathom is
the average distance from fingertip to fingertip of the outstretched
arms of a man - about six feet. Since a man stretches out his
arms to embrace his sweetheart, Britain's Parliament declared
that distance be called a "fathom" and it be a unit
of measure. A fathom remains six feet. The word was also used
to describe taking the measure or "to fathom" something.
Today, of course, when one is trying to figure something out,
they are trying to "fathom" it.
Feeling Blue
If you are sad and describe yourself as "feeling blue,"
you are using a phrase coined from a custom among many old deepwater
sailing ships. If the ship lost the captain or any of the officers
during its voyage, she would fly blue flags and have a blue band
painted along her entire hull when returning to home port.
Forecastle
The appropriate pronunciation for this word is fo'ksul. The
forecastle is the forward part of the main deck. It derives its
name from the days of Viking galleys when wooden castles were
built on the forward and after parts the main deck from which
archers and other fighting men could shoot arrows and throw spears,
rocks, etc. (practices not encouraged by the Hoosier Power Squadron).
Galley
The galley is the kitchen of the ship. The best explanation
as to its origin is that it is a corruption of "gallery".
Ancient sailors cooked their meals on a brick or stone gallery
laid amidships.
Gun Salutes
Gun salutes were first fired as an act of good faith. In the
days when it took so long to reload a gun, it was a proof of
friendly intention when the ship's cannon were discharged upon
entering port.
Head
The "head" aboard a Navy ship is the bathroom. The
term comes from the days of sailing ships when the place for
the crew to relieve themselves was all the way forward on either
side of the bowsprit, the integral part of the hull to which
the figurehead was fastened.
He Knows the Ropes
In the very early days, this phrase was written on a seaman's
discharge to indicate that he was still a novice. All he knew
about being a sailor was just the names and uses of the principal
ropes (lines). Today, this same phrase means the opposite - that
the person fully knows and understands the operation (usually
of the organization).
Holystone
The last Navy ships with teak decks were the battleships,
now since decommissioned. Teak, and other wooden decks, were
scrubbed with a piece of sandstone, nicknamed at one time by
an anonymous witty sailor as the "holystone." It was
so named because since its use always brought a man to his knees,
it must be holy!
Hunky-Dory
The term meaning everything is O.K. was coined from a street
named "Honki Dori" in Yokohama, Japan. Since the inhabitants
of this street catered to the pleasures of sailors, it is easy
to understand why the street's name became synonymous for anything
that is enjoyable or at least satisfactory. And, the logical
follow-on is "Okey-dokey."
Log Book
In the early days of sailing ships, the ship's records were
written on shingles cut from logs. These shingles were hinged
and opened like a book. The record was called the "log book."
Later on, when paper was readily available and bound into books,
the record maintained it name.
Mayday
"Mayday" is the internationally recognized voice
radio signal for ships and people in serious trouble at sea.
Made official in 1948, it is an anglicizing of the French m'aidez,
"help me".
Pea Coat
Sailors who have to endure pea-soup weather often don their
pea coats but the coat's name isn't derived from the weather.
The heavy topcoat worn in cold, miserable weather by seafaring
men was once tailored from pilot cloth - a heavy, course, stout
kind of twilled blue cloth with the nap on one side. The cloth
was sometimes called P-cloth for the initial letter of "pilot"
and the garment made from it was called a p-jacket - later, a
pea coat. The term has been used since 1723 to denote coats made
from that cloth.
Port holes
The word "port hole" originated during the reign
of Henry VI of England (1485). King Henry insisted on mounting
guns too large for his ship and the traditional methods of securing
these weapons on the forecastle and aftcastle could not be used.
A French shipbuilder named James Baker was commissioned to
solve the problem. He put small doors in the side of the ship
and mounted the cannon inside the ship. These doors protected
the cannon from weather and were opened when the cannon were
to be used. The French word for "door" is "porte"
which was later Anglicized to "port" and later went
on to mean any opening in the ship's side, whether for cannon
or not.
Scuttlebutt
The origin of the word "scuttlebutt," which is nautical
parlance for a rumor, comes from a combination of "scuttle"
- to make a hole in the ship's hull and thereby causing her to
sink -- and "butt" - a cask or hogshead used in the
days of wooden ships to hold drinking water. The cask from which
the ship's crew took their drinking water - like a water fountain
- was the "scuttlebutt". Even in today's Navy a drinking
fountain is referred to as such. But, since the crew used to
congregate around the "scuttlebutt", that is where
the rumors about the ship or voyage would begin. Thus, then and
now, rumors are talk from the "scuttlebutt" or just
"scuttlebutt".
S.O.S.
Contrary to popular notion, the letters S.O.S. do not stand
for "Save Our Ship" or "Save Our Souls".
They were selected to indicate a distress because, in Morse code,
these letters and their combination create an unmistakable sound
pattern.
Splice the Main Brace
A sailing ship's rigging was a favorite target during sea
battles since by destroying the opponent's ability to maneuver
or get away would put you at obvious advantage. Therefore, the
first thing tended to after a battle was to repair broken gear,
and repair sheets (lines - not "ropes" - that adjust
the angle at which a sail is set in relation to the wind ) and
braces (lines passing through blocks and holding up sails). Although
no specifics remain, it appears that the main brace was the principal
fore-and-aft support of the ship's masts. Splicing this line
was the most difficult chores aboard ship, and one on which the
ship's safety depended. It was the custom, after the main brace
was properly spliced, to serve grog to the entire crew. Thus,
today, after a hard day (or, not so hard day), the phrase has
become an invitation to have a drink.
Starboard
The Vikings called the side of their ship its board, and they
placed the steering oar, the "star" on the right side
of the ship, thus that side became known as the "star board."
It's been that way ever since. And, because the oar was in the
right side, the ship was tied to the dock at the left side. This
was known as the loading side or "larboard". Later,
it was decided that "larboard" and "starboard"
were too similar, especially when trying to be heard over the
roar of a heavy sea, so the phrase became the "side at which
you tied up to in port" or the "port" side.
Taken Aback
One of the hazards faced in days of sailing ships has been
incorporated into English to describe someone who has been jolted
by unpleasant news. We say that person has been "taken aback."
The person is at a momentary loss; unable to act or even to speak.
A danger faced by sailing ships was for a sudden shift in wind
to come up (from a sudden squall), blowing the sails back against
the masts, putting the ship in grave danger of having the masts
break off and rendering the ship totally helpless. The ship was
taken aback.
Three Mile Limit
The original three-mile limit was the recognized distance
from a nation's shore over which that nation had jurisdiction.
This border of international waters or the "high seas"
was established because, at the time this international law was
established, three miles was the longest range of any nation's
most powerful guns, and therefore, the limit from shore batteries
at which they could enforce their laws. (International law and
the 1988 Territorial Sea Proclamation established the "high
seas" border at the 12 mile limit.)
Three Sheets to the Wind
We use the term "three sheets to the wind" to describe
someone who has had too much to drink. As such, they are often
bedraggled with perhaps shirttails out, clothes a mess. The reference
is to a sailing ship in disarray, that is with sheets (lines
- not "ropes" - that adjust the angle at which a sail
is set in relation to the wind ) flapping loosely in the breeze.
Took the wind out of his sails
Often we use "took the wind out of his sails" to
describe getting the best of an opponent in an argument. Originally
it described a battle maneuver of sailing ships. One ship would
pass close to its adversary and on its windward side. The ship
and sails would block the wind from the second vessel, causing
it to lose headway. Losing motion meant losing maneuverability
and the ability to carry on a fight.
Watches
Traditionally, a 24-hour day is divided into seven watches.
These are: midnight to 4 a.m. [0000-0400], the mid-watch; 4 to
8 a.m. [0400-0800], morning watch; 8 a.m. to noon [0800-1200],
forenoon watch; noon to 4 p.m. [1200-1600], afternoon watch;
4 to 6 p.m. [1600-1800] first dog watch; 6 to 8 p.m. [1800-2000],
second dog watch; and, 8 p.m. to midnight [2000 2400], evening
watch. The half hours of the watch are marked by the striking
the bell an appropriate number of times.
. . . U. S. NAVY