NOTE: These definitions and explanations are the opinions and findings of the author of the book listed above. Be mindful that some traditions have as many explanations as there are ships in the fleet. If you have another logical explanation for one of them, drop us a line.

Admiral: It seems a far cry from a Moorish chief to a senior ranking officer in the Navy. yet, a Moorish chief is an Emir, and chief of all the chiefs is the EMIR-AL, from which we get our English word "Admiral."

Ahoy: This old traditional greeting for hailing other boats, was originally a Viking battle-cry.

Anchors aweigh: The word "Aweigh" is from the old English "Woeg" to raise.

Aye, Aye: This affirmative expression is generally supposed to be a corruption of the words Yea, yea. The claim is advanced that Cockney accents changed the Yea to Yi, and from there it was a simple transition to Aye.

Bell-bottom trousers: Of all the reasons given for the extreme width of sailor's trousers at the bottoms, the obvious and practical one remains the best: They were easy to roll to the knees when the owner was swabbing decks.

Big-wigs: This slang term for men in high positions gathers its meaning from the fact that senior officers in the old British Navy actually did wear huge wigs.

Black Neckerchiefs: Every time an American gob dons his neckerchief, he is unconsciously paying tribute to the death of Lord Horatio Nelson. This however, is only because the American uniform is patterned so closely after the British.

Bo'sun: In the 17th century, ships were required by law to carry three boats, which were named respectively (1) the BOAT, (2) the COCK, and (3) the SKIFF. The men in charge were rated BOATSWAIN, COCKSWAIN and SKIFFSWAIN. Swain meant lover or keeper.

Bo'sun's Pipe: the present form of the bo'sun's pipe is actually a facsimile of that taken from the body of the infamous pirate Andrew Barton by Admiral Lord Howard.

Bum boat: A peddler's boat, filled with assorted merchandise. Its name is a corruption of "Boom-Boat," because these small craft were permitted to moor to a ship's boat-booms while disposing of their wares.

Carry on: While the order "Carry On" now mean only to proceed with any duty, it was originally a specific order not to shorten sail, but to carry on all canvas the ship would stand unless stress of bad weather dictated otherwise.

Chinese Gangways: As the traditional direction for gangways to face is aft, any accommodation ladder which reverses the position and points forward is known as a Chinese gangway, meaning back to front.

Chits: The name "chit" for a note or voucher, was introduced into our language in the days of the East Indian Company. A number of other Hindustani words were also added to our vocabulary through the medium of this old "Honorable John" line.

Chain Cables: "Old Ironsides" was one of the last American ships to use hemp cables for her anchors. In 1812, chain cables were introduced and quickly demonstrated their superiority over rope.

Commodore: This title arose from a practiced economy of the old Dutch Admiralty. In her war with England, Holland found herself short of admirals and distressingly short of cash. She solved her difficulty by created a brand new rank of "commodore," which carried with it all the responsibilities of an admiral ... but only HALF his pay.

Crossing the line: this traditional ritual, now introducing the greenhorn to King Neptune in fun and merriment, originally was a very serious procedure among the Vikings, and was practiced with all kinds of severe tests to see if the novice could really stand the hardships of the ocean.

Crew: We have the word "crew" from the old Norse "Acrue," meaning to gather; and from the same sources also the word "recruit."

Crow's nest: The ship's lookout station was named for the cage which housed the ravens carried by Norsemen at their mastheads. When these sea-warriors lost sight of land, they would release one of the birds, and as it headed for the nearest shore, they would follow its flight. A crude method of navigation, but, within limits, both efficient and practical.

Cumshaw: International seagoing term for petty graft or secret commissions.

Davits: These devices for hoisting boats were named for their inventor, a Welshman named David, and given the Welsh pronunciation of that word, vis., Davit.

Davey Jones: This name is a corruption of Jonah, the Biblical gentleman who is credited with having supplied Vitamin A to a whale for three days.

Dead Reckoning: This navigation term was originally spelled "ded" (the abbreviation for deduced) reckoning. An unscholarly British shipmaster thought the "a" had been omitted, so he inserted it. Ever since then, even the officially printed forms spell it "dead" reckoning.

Dinghy: This name for a ship's smallest boat, is a contribution to our nautical vocabulary from India. Dinghy means "small," and from this same word, we get also our slang term "Dinky."

Dipping the flag: Dipping the flag is a survival of a very old custom when merchant ships were required to clew up all their canvas and wait until the adjacent man-o'-war either sent a boat off to inspect their papers or signaled them to proceed. The flag salute was later adopted as a time-saver.

Ditty Box: the ditty box (or bag) was first known as the "DITTO" bag, because of the fact that it contained TWO of everything: two spools of thread, two needles, two buttons, etc., etc.

Dog Watch: This name for the split watch between the hours of four to six and six to eight p.m., was originally "Dodge Watch," as it allowed seamen to escape (or dodge) standing the same watch every day of the voyage. As time went on, the names gradually corrupted to the present "Dog Watch."

Drinking a toast: This term for drinking to one's health, or in one's honor, was coined in early days along the waterfronts, when it was customary to place a small piece of toast in the hot toddy and the mulled wine so popular with seamen of the day.

Eight bells: This measure of time originated in the days when a half-hour glass was used to tell off the four-hour watches. Each time the sand ran out, the ship's boy, whose job it was to reverse the glass, struck a bell to show he was attending to his business. Thus, eight times he turned the glass, and eight times struck the bell.

Ensign: This title dates back to when privileged squires carried the banners of their lords and masters into battle. Later, these squires became known by the name of the banner (the ensign) itself. Though today, we look on ensign as a purely naval rank, as a matter of fact, an ensign was originally the lowest commissioned officer in the Army.

Fathom: This well-known nautical word comes from the old English "FAETM" meaning to embrace. Parliament decided that, since an embrace involved the distance between a man's hands when placed around his sweetheart, and as that distance averaged about six feet, it should be established as a standard measure.

First Naval Commission: The first commission granted to a U.S. Naval officer was to Capt. Hopley Yeaton, March 21, 1791. He was master of a revenue cutter, then the sole maritime defense of our young republic.

Flying-fish Sailor: Old Navy slang to differentiate between a seaman on duty in Asiatic waters, and one in a Mediterranean squadron. The later was known as a "Sou'Spainer."

Forecastle (fo'c'stle): This name is a relic of the days when huge wooden castles actually were built on the fore and aft ends of ships from which fighting men could throw spears, arrows, stones, etc., onto the decks of an enemy.

Fouled anchor: It seems strange that the navies of the world should use as an insignia the abomination of all good sailors. Somewhere back in the early days, a draftsman with more artistic ability than technical knowledge produced the well-know design which shows an anchor with its cable hopelessly fouled around the shank and arms. How such a design could win the approval of the Admiralty Board is beyond comprehension, but the fact remains that the sign of the fouled anchor has become an international emblem.

Galley: The most logical explanation for ship's kitchens being called galleys, is the one which maintains the word is a corruption of "gallery." Ancient mariners cooked their simple meals on a brick or stone gallery laid amidships.

Hawser: The word "Hawser" is derived from the old English "Halter," meaning a rope for the neck.

Halyards: Originally an order to "haul yards," these two words were corrupted into one which now designates any lines used for hoisting sails, flags, etc.

Half mast: Flags flown at half-mast for mourning, are a survival of the old custom which decreed that slovenliness was a mark of respect for the dead. Sails and rigging were slacked off, yards cock-billed, flags part lowered etc. In fact, anything to give the ship a dejected appearance.

Hunky-Dory: This term, meaning everything is O.K., was coined from a street named Honki-dori in Yokohama. As the inhabitants of this street catered to the pleasure of sailors, one can readily understand why the street's name became synonymous for anything that is enjoyable or satisfactory.

Idlers: This traditional name for members of the ship's company who stand no regular watch is a flagrant thrust at the toil-worn members of the medical staff, messmen and others who work on a different schedule.

In the brig: Because Admiral Nelson once assigned a small ship (a brig) to carry captives taken in one of his naval engagements, and because his seamen ever afterwards associated that vessels with prisoners, the name "brig" because sailor's universal slang for Jail.

In order to keep the steering oar from being crushed against the side of the dock, ships were always tied up with their left-hand side fast to the wharf. Therefore, as it was thus they were loaded, the left-hand side was called the "lar-" or "load-"board side. Later the name was changed to "port" side, because larboard was too similar to starboard, and created confusion when giving orders.

Jack Tar: International nickname for government sailors, because of the custom among old Navy men of giving their work clothes a light coating of tar to waterproof them.

Just in case you think it a modern innovation to grant commissions and ratings in the Navy to women, remember that Mary Ann Talbot received a pension of 20 pounds per annum for wounds received in action many years before Nelson's time. Also note that Ann Johnson died at the Battle of Copenhagen while serving as a member of a British gun crew.

Knots: To ascertain the speed of his vessel, a British commander had knots tied at regular intervals in a coil of rope. The rope was then tied onto a log and the log heaved overboard. With an hour-glass, he timed each knot as it disappeared over the taffrail .. thus originating the custom of telling off a ship's speed by knots instead of miles.

"Keep your shirt on:" Slang for "Don't get fighting mad," it refers to the act of the ancient Viking berserkers, who in fury would tear off their shirts of mail, and fight half-naked.

Keel-haul: Keel-hauling was a brutal punishment inflicted on seamen guilty of mutiny or some other high crime in the "good old days" of sail. It practically amounted to a death sentence, for the chances of recovery after the ordeal were slight. The culprit was fastened to a line which had been passed beneath the vessel's keel. He was then dragged under the water on the starboard side of the ship, hauled along the barnacle-encrusted bottom and hoisted up and onto the deck on the port side. If the barnacles didn't cut him to pieces, and if he hadn't been drowned in the process of the operations, he was considered to have paid for his crime and was free.

Kissed by Mother Carey: This is another way of saying, "Once a sailor, always a sailor." It is an old superstition that all boys who go to sea were kissed in their infancy by the sailorman's guardian angel Mata Cara (Mother Carey).

Larboard side: This old-time name for the modern "port" or left-hand side of a vessel, means literally the "loading" side. Ancient ships were steered by a huge oar secured near the stern, on the starboard or right-hand side.

Lend a hand: in sea-going parlance, is a request for help. BEAR a hand is a direct order.

Leathernecks: U.S. marines earned this name in 1812, when stiff leathers bands were sewn into their collars to ward off sword strokes.

Limey: Because it was practically impossible to carry fresh fruits and vegetables on long voyages years ago, British Parliament decreed that each sailor must drink a pint of lime juice daily as a preventative against scurvy. Thus came the nickname for British ships, and Britishers in general.

At Logger-heads: This term, descriptive today of the angry relationship between two parties, dates back to the days when implements known as logger-heads were used in spreading hot pitch along deck-seams. Men doing this work for long houses were apt to grow nerve-raw and quarrelsome, and their logger-heads made effective and ugly weapons.

Log book: As early ship's records were inscribed on shingles (cut from logs) and hinged so that they opened like a book, the name "Log-book" was logical and lasts to this day.

Lucky Bag: Named for certain lockers on old-time ships, wherein were placed all lost articles. Once a month, it was a seaman's privilege to re-claim from said lockers such articles as he had lost during that period.

Marine Officers' Swords: The design for the modern Marine officer's sword is practically a duplicate of the weapon which was presented to William Eaton by the Bey of Tripoli, for his service in destroying the power of Barbary pirates.

"Mind your P's and Q's:" Nowadays a term meaning "Be on your best behavior." In old days, sailors serving aboard government ship could always get credit at the waterfront taverns until payday. As they would only pay for those drinks which were marked up on the scoreboard, the tavern-keeper had to be careful that no Pints or Quarts had been omitted from the customer's list.

Mate: Bosun's Mate, Gunner's Mate, Mate of a ship, all derive their rating from the French word "matelot" meaning sailor.

Oak Leaves: Oak leaves are used in insignia as a tribute to the memory of the staunch ships of oak in the good old days of sail.

Painters: The light line secured to a small boat's sternpost receives its name from the French word "Peyntours," meaning a noose or bight.

Pea-Jacket: This short coat or jacket was originally made of Pilot-cloth (material similar to Melton cloth) and was named for the initial letter of the word. Thus it was first spelled P-jacket, not Pea-jacket.

Portholes: Port holes were originally gunports. In early days, no provision whatever was made for admitting air or light into the crew's quarters, which remained foul and gloomy until recent times.

Poop Deck: A ship's afterdeck received its name from the old Roman custom of carrying Pupi (small images of their gods) in the stern of their ships for luck.

Present arms: The "present arms" salute was originally a pacific and friendly gesture, meaning literally "Presented for you to take if you wish."

Quarterdeck: The quarter-deck received its name in the days when decks were in tiers. The "half-deck" was half the length of the ship, and the "quarter-deck" was half the length of the half-deck.

REMEMBER: You serve IN a ship ... not ON her!

Rank of Admiral: Strangely enough, there was no rank of Admiral in the U.S. Navy until July 1862.

Rear Admiral: The title of Rear Admiral was first given to divisional commanders of reserve fleets hence, the inference of being in Reserve, or "In the Rear."

S.O.S.: No, S.O.S., the universal wireless signal for ships in distress, does not stand for "Save our Souls." That ideal may have been the dream-child of some romantic publicity man, but wireless operators promptly jeered the idea into oblivion. They explained that the letters S.O.S. were just a quick and compelling combination to command instant attention. The letters themselves have no hidden meaning.

Saluting the Quarterdeck: a relic of Roman days, when images of the gods were housed in that section of the ship, and were paid homage by everyone as they came aboard.

Sea Lawyer: Not a member of the legal fraternity by any means, but a surly fellow who is forever arguing about anything and everything aboard ship, with a view to getting out of scrapes (and more particularly) out of work.

Shanghaied: Just in case you didn't know it, the term "shanghaied" originated in the Chinese port of Shanghai. There, masters of American tea-clippers delayed for want of crews, would pay the Chinese owners of dives where drunken sailors were carousing, to slip drugs into the seamen's drinking glasses and hustle the unconscious sailors aboard the waiting ships.

Show a leg: this slang term for ordering men to turn out, originated in King George III's time, when women were allowed to accompany sailors on long voyages. It was customary when ordering seamen from their bunks, for the bos'un to demand "show a leg." If the leg was covered by a stocking, he know it belonged to a woman; otherwise the skulker would promptly be routed from his bunk.

Side lights: It was not until between 1825 and 1830 that RED and GREEN sidelights were introduced. Up until then, all ships' running lights were WHITE, but the advent of speed called for the color lights as a further aid to navigation.

Sick Bay: Ship's hospitals were originally known as "Sick Berths," but as they were generally located in the rounded sterns of the old battle-wagons, their contours suggested a "bay," and the latter name was given them.

Side boys: In "tending side" duties, it would be well for our lads to remember that originally, side boys had one specific duty. Some of the officers, particularly those of higher rank, would attain considerable, shall we say, embonpoint in their later years. This made coming aboard a particularly strenuous exercise, so the side boys had the job of hauling the short-o'-breath gentlemen inboard.

Spinning a yarn: This term for tale-telling, was coined in days when sailors would be given old ropes to unroll for the making of sennit and small stuff. As this was the only duty during which they could talk at will, the act of making yarn because synonymous for free and unrestricted conversation.

Skylarking: First coined to express the fun enjoyed by robust young seamen who would scramble to the fighting-tops of ships and descend to the decks by sliding down the backstays.

Son of a Gun: This term dates back to when men of certain ratings, including gunners and gunners mates, were allowed to take their wives along to sea with them. If a boy was born on the voyage, he was half-humorously, half-contemptuously referred to as a "son of a gun."

Squared away: When you use this expression for putting yourself into a posture of offense or defense, you are borrowing a phrase which described a square-rigged ship bracing her yards to run away before the wind.

Starboard side: Because the Vikings shipped their star (steering) oar on the right hand side of their vessels, and called the side of a ship its "board," the right hand side of vessels has ever since been designated as the "starboard" side.

"Took the wind out of his sails:" Here's an expression by which we describe besting an opponent in some argument. Originally, it was a maneuver by which one vessel would pass close to windward of another, thereby blanketing the breeze from the other's canvas and making him lose way.

Taffrail: Some maintain that the world taffrail is a combination of three words, namely -- the after rail. Others claim it is a misspelling of the Dutch word "Tafareel" which means painting on the stern.

Taps: The Last Call got its name from the Dutch word TAP-TOE, meaning to turn off all beer spigots (or taps) and to put out all lights in waterfront taverns. From this same word we get also the corrupted term "Tat-too."

The word "fleet" is derived from the Spanish "flota." From the same source is the word "flotilla."

The first U.S. Naval Commission was that given to Capt. Samuel Nichols of the U.S. Marines by the Continental Congress Nov. 28, 1775.

The first ship to fly the Stars and Stripes was the Ranger, wen she was commanded by the redoubtable John Paul Jones.

Three collar braids: Tradition has it that the three white braids on the American sailor's collar commemorate three big British naval victories, viz., Battle of the Baltic, Battle of the Nile and Battle of Trafalgar; this because the American uniform is practically a duplicate of the British.

The three-mile limit: It is of special interest to note that the reason for three miles being the distance over which a nation has jurisdiction regarding coastal waters, is because at the time this international law was established, three miles was the longest range of any nation's largest guns, and therefore the limit to which they could enforce their laws.

Working for a dead horse: This expression, meaning that one is working at some job for which he has already been paid, dates back to early days, when it was customary to advance a sailor his first month's pay. After the ship had been thirty days at sea, the crew would construct a horse out of a barrel and odd ends of canvas. It would be hoisted over the side and set on fire, and, as it drifted astern, the men would sing the old chantey "Poor Old Horse." This indicated that they would once again be working for wages, and no longer for "Salt Horse" (food).

Water was used to christen the USS Constitution on the first two attempts to launch her. She wouldn't budge. Then someone produced a bottle of Madeira, smashed it against her bow, and she slid gracefully into the stream.

"When my ship comes in:" This phrase, meaning "if and when I make my fortune," was coined in the days when seafaring adventurers would send their fleets along the Mediterranean and African coasts in search of rich cargoes. First, they would have to go to the money-lenders, in order to finance the venture. As it was impossible to set an exact date for the fleet's return, they would sign documents promising to repay the loans "when my ships come in."

Wardroom: The wardroom originally was known as the Wardrobe Room, being the place where officers kept their spare wearing apparel and also any loot they won while on service. It was not until years later that it served its present purpose and became the officers' mess-room.

Yankee: The nickname of Yankee was first applied to American by merchants of Holland. Because of the argumentative traits of certain American captains trading with the Netherlands, Dutchmen jerringly called them "Yangers" (Wranglers) and the name stuck ...

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11 September 1996