HOW THE NAVY TALKS [1942]
Plank owner - Sailor who stays on one ship.
White rat - A man who "rats" on his shipmates to officers.
4.0 mark - A perfect mark, as in examinations.
Sound off - Give your name, rate and horsepower.
Light the smoking lamp - In old Navy a lamp was lit when smoking was allowed; now they pass the word over an announcing system.
Paid off - Discharged.
Flake out - To lie down.
Out of bounds - Forbidden.
To foul up the detail - To make a mistake.
A mustang - A full commissioned officer who rose from the ranks by merit.
To caulk off - To sleep.
Chow - Food.
Bellyrobber - The ship's cook.
Scuttlebutt - Navy drinking fountain; gossip.
Greaseball - Mess cook.
Sea lawyer - Sailor who gives unwanted advice.
Hashmarks - Diagonal stripes worn on sleeves. One for each four years.
Ship over - Re-enlist.
Java, jamoke, mud - Coffee.
Rubber sock, boot - A new recruit.
Kickout - Dishonorable or bad conduct discharge.
Brig - The ship's jail.
Skipper, Old Man, His nibs - The Captain.
Doc. - Any pharmacist's mate.
Insect - A boot Ensign.
O.O.D. - The Officer-of-the-Deck.
Bucket of blood racetrack - A low class dance-hall.
Holy Joe, sympathy issuer - The Chaplain.
Five for seven man - Navy loan shark.
Sailor's bible - A bluejacket's manual.
Cutter - A long, fast boat, used for racing.
Tin can - A destroyer.
Pig boat - A submarine.
Mosquito boat - A very fast torpedo boat.
Ham 'n eggs boat - A refrigerator ship.
Airdales - Navy aviators.
Lower the boom - To knock someone down.
Hack driver - Chief Petty Officer.
Jack-o-the-dust - The commissary steward.
Gyp joint - The ship's service store.
Slumgullion - Stew.
Money-bags - The paymaster.
Lucky bag - Where lost clothing is kept.
Make a speed run - Have a gay time ashore.
Tin fish - A torpedo.
W.P.A, men - Navy reserves.
Shove off - Scram, beat it.
Ash can - A depth charge.
Navy Chest - A protruding stomach.
Show a leg - Get out of your bunk.
Take in the slack - Take it easy.
Shipshape - Neat.
Get under way - Get going.
Blow a fuse - Get angry.
Irish pennant - A loose end.
Monkey drill - Calisthenics.
4 on and 4 off - Standing watch and watch.
On the mat - Called up for punishment.
Go to the mast - Before the Commanding officer for trial.
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On the report - To be reported for an offense.
Busted - Reduced in rank.
Surveyed - Discharged for medical reasons.
Mate - Your pal.
Go over the hill - To run away, desert.
Civvie - A civilian.
Skivvies - Underwear.
Captain of the head ? Toilet room cleaner.
Sugar report - A letter from the girl friend.
Bellbottoms - Widely flared non-reg pantaloons.
Acey-deucey - Navy game similar to backgammon.
Overleave - To overstay shore time.
"48" - Week-end liberty.
Foxtail - A mustache.
Smoke-stacking - Telling big windies.
To get your ears lowered - Get a haircut.
Happy hour or smoker - A card of fights, wrestling, and entertainment.
All-Navy - A regulation-abiding sailor.
Chinaman - Sailor who works in the laundry.
Dungarees - Working denims.
Racketeer - Sailor who has a money-making sideline.
Marlinspike seamanship - Knowing knots and splices.
Dogging the watch - Splitting the watch in half, to make it rotate.
Stand by - Take a shipmate's duty so he can go ashore.
Section leader - Senior man in a section.
Billet - Your bunk and locker number.
Ropeyarn Sunday - In old Navy, this was a half day off to sew and perform personal tasks; now is a half-holiday.
Thirty-year bag - Large canvas bag in which a man's clothing is packed.
Slick, shave, and shine - Get cleaned up for liberty.
Goonie - A married man.
Field day - Day of general cleaning.
A salvo - Broadside from all guns.
Coming on the range - Approaching firing position.
Officer's Country - That part of the ship, usually aft, where officers live.
Bugle - Your nose.
A one-nighter - Sailor who is suffering from a hangover.
Quarterdeck - Part of the upper deck used for ceremonies.
Topside - The weather deck.
Technician - Sailor who thinks he is very good at his trade.
Lubber - Inept sailor, or landsman.
Old salt - An old sailor.
Cruising the town - Seeing the sights.
Taking a bearing - Ascertain your whereabouts.
Breakwater sailor - Sailor on a ship which seldom goes to sea.
Homeguard - Married sailor.
Sea gulls - Girls who follow the fleet.
Sea-going - One who gets plenty of time at sea.
Freedom chit, or liberty card - A pass to go ashore,
"84" - Naval prison.
Dummy run - A false start.
To secure - Make fast, or tie up.
Haul out - To tie up to a boom.
Gangway ticket - A man's discharge paper.
Ginmill - Lowclass cabaret, or booze joint.
Collision mat - Navy hot cakes.
P. I. man - Sailor who is supposed to have political influence.
Shore patrol - Sailors on duty to keep the peace among sailors ashore.
Landing force - A large liberty party.
Graveyard watch - The 12 to 4 at night.
Man-o-war's man - An alert, up-to-the-minute sailor.
Muscle man - One who pulls in a racing boat.
Politician - Sailor with an easy job.
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Source: Typed handout sheet, Terminology vertical file, Navy Department Library.
