Did you know?

DID YOU KNOW that numerous and commonly known phrases and expressions still used today have their origins steeped in naval tradition, Here are a few-

Skyscraper- any sail above the fore main or mizzen royal

Son of a gun- Traditionally stems from British ships (Not American Cowboys!) where the women literally gave birth between the ships guns.

A real ‘man of wars man’

“Begging often in the galley and born under a gun, every hair a rope yarn, every tooth a marlin spike, every finger a fish hook, and in his blood right good Stockholm tar”

Grog – Sailors word for watered rum, originated in 1740 when Admiral Vernon RN ordered that rum be watered. (He wore a cloak of a coarse material called grogram.

-His nickname was old grog)

Nipper – Young boy sailors who because of their agility were used for nipping the capstans hawser on to the anchor cable when heaving the anchor.

Dutch Courage- relates to the Dutch sailors being given square faced gin by their commanders Cornelius Van Tromp and De Ruyter during battles with the English

Sky larking- Lark meaning spree from Anglo Saxon lac- young sailors aloft having fun, sliding down backstays etc.

Devil to pay- The devil seam is the garboard strake seam running parallel with the ships keel and is usually the one most prone to leaking  due to compression from the masts. It is the most difficult to caulk, using oakum or cotton and Pay (from the French word poix meaning pitch or tar) Hence-Between the Devil and the deep blue sea

Splice the mainbrace.- A reward of an extra ration of rum for splicing the main brace or any other difficult splicing job.

Cut of his jib.-in the days of sailing ships nationalities could be distinguished by the ships jib. (i.e. Spanish ships had a very short jib or none at all, some large French ships had two and English one) – from ships the expression was extended to the appearance of men on first impression.

Above board- nothing below deck, nothing concealed.

Shipshape and Bristol fashion- The ships from Bristol were particularly known for their gingerbread i.e. Fancy work, decorations, and rope work adornments

Up the pole- up the mast or ‘a little high.’

Let the cat out of the bag- trouble brewing on board, possibly causing the cat of nine tails to be taken out as a threat of punishment

Watch- originally derived from there being mathematicians or astronomers on board ship constantly keeping ‘watch’ over the heavenly bodies and plotting their positions, eventually being replaced by a mechanical watch (clock) in the 1700’s to determine longitude.