It’s amazing how many words and expressions in common use today have originated from a nautical environment. We are sure you will enjoy reading a selection in our A to Z below. We will update the list on a regular basis. If you have a query or any interesting suggestions to add, please contact us at info@allatseaonline.com.
A.1 – From the ‘A.1 at Lloyds’ classification, which is given to merchants ships that have been made to the highest standard.
Blind Eye – From the famous incident during the Battle of Copenhagen. Admiral Nelson was second in command and ignored the instructions given by his superior to cease bombardment. He evidently put the telescope to his blind eye, when attempting to view the signal flags, thus deliberately ignoring the order.
Chock – A - Block - from the position of two pulley blocks which have been hoisted to a stage where no more leverage can be achieved. Therefore meaning full to capacity. Block is the nautical word for pulley and ‘chock’ is to secure.
Dogsbody – An unpopular dish served on ships made with passenger leftovers & ships biscuits and reheated. A meal with no status, the name is now given to those who once ate it.
Embark – From the Spanish word embarcar, which means to go aboard a ship. Barco is Spanish for ship.
Figurehead – A leader with no real power, but important in the community. The word is taken from the ornamental figures used on the front of sailing ships. While primarily decorative, figureheads also reflected the belief that ships were living things that needed someone up front to watch where they were going. A popular choice is the bare breasted woman, as conventional wisdom holds that a topless woman is able to calm rough seas.
Give Someone the Slip – When someone cleverly escapes. Ships could escape quietly and without help from the shore, by slipping their ropes or anchor cables.
Hijack – From the term ‘Hi Jack’, used by prostitutes to call a sailor. Often, after an initial embrace, they would hit the sailor with a lead-filled handbag. Alternatively after spending a night with them, they would have them dragged from the boarding house in vest & socks and sold as crew to ships.
I’m alright Jack – From the expression ‘Blow you Jack, I’m onboard’. From the prank when the first man to climb the ship’s side from the boat, pulls the rope ladder up after he is onboard.
Jackknife – From the hinged- blade knife used by officers, named after Jacques de Liege, the inventor. The word is now used to describe a high dive in which the body is first bent at the waist to touch the feet, before straightening & entering the water. Also describes articulated trucks that get into a skid and fold against themselves.
Know the Ropes – From the era of large sailing ships that could have up to 15kms of rope, in numerous separate parts, each with their own name & purpose. Many ropes looked the same in terms of size and construction and were only identified by where they were attached. ‘Knowing the ropes’ became the way of determining a novice from an experienced sailor.
Limey – Description used internationally to describe anyone from Brittan. Originated from the word ‘limejuicers’ used to describe British sailors. This was because from 1795 British ships carried lime juice on them to prevent scurvy amongst the crew (which was quite common on long journeys because of the lack of fresh food)
Maiden Voyage – Describes the first trip made after launching. As ships are ladies, one that is new and unused is considered a maiden.
Nausea – Comes from the Greek word for ship, naus.
On the Make – At sea, the word make means to grow or increase. For instance, a leaking ship makes water, and sea growing rougher is described as being on the make.
Posh – The word posh stood for Port Out, Starboard Home. Wealthy passengers traveling to India in the days of British rule, favored cabins on the port side on the outward bound journey and starboard on the trip home. This choice ensured that they were on the coolest side of the ship, away from the glare of the sun.
Quarters – The officers’ accommodation which was located in the area of the ship between 45 degrees on either side of the stern (the port and starboard quarters). Over time the word has come to mean lodging in the military.
Rats from a Sinking Ship – To depart from a situation or project that seems doomed to failure. Sailors believed that rats leaving a ship’s hold were a sign of impending disaster. This probably originates from the fact that rats often inhabited the bilge, which was the first place to flood should the ship be in difficulty.
Scraping the Barrel - Before refrigeration, ship’s meat was supplied soaked in brine and stored in barrels. The hardened fat would stick to the edge of the barrel, but when supplies were low and sailors’ hungry, the cook would ‘scrape the barrel’. Hence the meaning of using one’s last resources (even if they are inferior).
Tidy – The word is derived from tide, thus the meaning of being well arranged and methodical, as associated with tides.
Under the Weather – Originally meant to feel seasick. The full term is ‘under the weather bow’; the weather bow is the side of the ship on which all the awful weather is blowing.
Veer – In the nautical sense, veer is to slack away a rope. When the wind is behind the ship, the ropes which controlled the sails would have to be veered. Later the word came to mean a change of direction.
Windfall - Some English and American landowners had clauses in the title to their estates that restricted them from felling or selling timber, as it was required for building ships for the Navy. This did not include trees that were blown down; hence a windfall came to mean a financial blessing or the unexpected receipt of money.
X-Chaser - Naval slang name for one mathematically inclined or occupied.
Yard Arm - A yard is the spar (a stout stick) slung across the mast for a sail to hang from. The yard – arm is either end of the ship’s yard
Zig-Zag - Refers to the action of a sailing boat tacking (especially short tacks) to windward. A sailing can only sail to windward by tacking back and forth through 90 degrees (45 degrees either side wind direction).
