Naval Sayings

[Eric Gaumann]

Wasn't "toe the line" referring to way back when barefoot sailors placed their toes on one 'line' (seam) in the deck when reporting for divisions/inspection?

[Tiger-pie]

I have a mixed bag to add, some old some new used in the Aussie navy:

Redders: tomato sauce

Going around the bouy: to have seconds at meal time

Duff: dessert

Dhurry: cigarette

Lashed (up): to be chosen for a onerous task

Skidded: as above

Tiddly: neat and tidy, squared away

Fang bosun: dentist

Scab-lifter: medic

Uckers: navy version of Ludo, bits usually being made of .50Cal shells

Dit: film/movie or story, as in "Spin me a dit"

Warrie: tall story, usually told on the piss.

Bit rushed at the moment, will add more when I think of them.

Regards;

Johnsy

[Humber]

Sippers and Gulpers

Sometimes a mess of RN ratings would 'pool' their rum ration into one large drinking vessel which would be passed round for each to take a sip or gulp (that being decided at the start of the round)

Also the rum ration was often used as a kind of currency among the ratings and a sip or gulp from one's ration recognised as payment for deals or favours.

[Ardent]

Sippers and Gulpers

Sometimes a mess of RN ratings would 'pool' their rum ration into one large drinking vessel which would be passed round for each to take a sip or gulp (that being decided at the start of the round)

Also the rum ration was often used as a kind of currency among the ratings and a sip or gulp from one's ration recognised as payment for deals or favours.

the daily issue of rum at its demise (31st July 1970) was 1/3rd of a gil added to twice its volume of water (neat for Senior Rates)

it was broken down into 3 gulpers, one or more could be given to your oppo for good favours received

each gulp was sub-divided into 3 sippers for minor favours

a more random measure was to offer whatever you had left for the recipient to finish off - to drink to the "sandy bottoms"

I could go on but I think I can already hear the snoring

[Chris Boonzaier]

I could go on but I think I can already hear the snoring

Indeed.... they must have all been hitting the (rum) bottle ;-)

[leigh kitchen]

Jim, where does the naval saying "Pass me another cabin boy, I've split this one mate" orginate?

[Ardent]

Jim, where does the naval saying "Pass me another cabin boy, I've split this one mate" orginate?

Same place as Rum Bum and Baccy (someone's obviously not using enough masking tape!)

[Tiger-pie]

Same place as Rum Bum and Baccy (someone's obviously not using enough masking tape!)

Which brings us to the term "beenie", as in "been a man" i.e. chicks with dicks, sluts with nuts etc. I think that this is a purely modern Aussie naval slang word, I have never heard it used anywhere else. I did in fact horrify an American women when I was in Hi. many years ago, she was selling some sort of stuffed toy, a collectors item I am led to believe, called Beanies. I took great delight in explaining what the term meant in Aussie slang. She was selling stickers which proclaimed "I Love Beanies", so I bought some, and giggling like a child stuck them to the locker doors (after your rack, the only personal space you have onboard) of those I had an slanging match with in recent times.

Regards;

Johnsy

[Tiger-pie]

Limers= a powered electrolytic drink, popular in the tropics for replacing lost salt. Name most likely a derivative of Limey. It now refers to any cordial based drinks.

[TS Allen]

I suppose a natural successor to this thread are the innumerable words/saying in common usage that have their origin in the military and colonial experience.

Obvious examples would be:

Khaki (India)

Khaki is actually from Persian, Khak. The modern colour originated on the Frontier, of course, were (at least when Harlan was exploring the region) Persian was a very common language and nearly universally spoken among the upper classes.

~TS

[Hetcdr]

Stephen, `Et Al' ;

Not to mention `KHASI' !!!!

`Pump the Bilge' - take a `P'

`Blow Main Ballast' - take a `S***'

Sadsac