The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-08-10
PHRASEOLOGY OF THE SEA
SOME FAMILIAR TITLES AND
AND THEIR ORIGIN.
How Men and Things Aboard Ship
Acquired the Names and Applications
Which They Now Bear.

In the early days of English naval
organization vessels of war had doub-
lie crews, a military one for fighting
purposes and another of mariners for
navigating duties. In consequence a
large number of English sea terms
have military origin.
At that time the rank of admiral
was unknown, and the chief officer of
the squadron was called a constable
or justice. The term admiral as now
used is derived from the Arabic
amir or "emir," commander (as
in "Amir-al- Bahr," commander of the
sea-. The early English form was
"amiral,' and is still preserved by the
| French as such.
The title of captain is not naval
| but a military one. Originally, the
real captain of a ship was mas
ter" military officer was placed on
board, though he knew nothing of
nautical matters. Gradually his inn
portance increased, while that of the
master diminished roportionately
| till, at the present day, the masters
office is gradually becoming obsolete.
Commodore comes from the Spanish
commentator"
The title of lieutenant is borrowed
directly from the French and is meant
as place holder, or one who took the
place of the captain when absent. In
former days there were no cadets but
volunteers, but with the gradual adj
vance of politeness, the term cadet
was appropriated from the French.
'Boatswain" is derived from the
SnNnn hGNNniD - Tho
quartermaster, as used both in the
army and navy, appears to be con-
fusing and anomalous. In the army
it is the title of a commissioned Off
Ger who performs important and re-
sponsible duties. In the navy he is
simply a warrant officer, directing
subordinate duties. In old ships and
in olden times his position was a more
important one; so much so that he
was considered to be the fourth part
of a master-hence the term quar-
termaster.
The ships cook was once great
man, and there are instances on rec
ord of his being promoted for ef1ici-
ent preparation of food. The ships
steward was originally the caterer.
The term larboard and starboard
come from the Italian "questra bor-
da' and "quelia borda," which by
rapid delivery became starboard and
larboard; but owing to the strong
similarity of sound they were chang
ed into starbOard and port Uatin por-
to, to carry, the use of the terms in
the original form having been the
cause of many accidents.
Gangway has been handed down
from the days of the ancient galley of
the Phoenicians, Carthaginians and
Romans, it having been a board which
ran along the whole length serving as
passage for the rowers to and from
their seats. 1t was also used as a
resting place for the mast and sail
when not in use.
The cockpit is the lowest part of
the vessel below water used during
an action for the treatment of the
wounded, and is derived from the Old
days of the English sport of cock
fighting; but this has been moderniz-
ed, and is now known as the flats"
why, no one can explain.
Lubber is from the Dutch, meaning
lazy, cowardly fellow.
Anchor comes from the Latin an
chora," or ''ancora," which up to 600
b. c. consisted simply of large stone
with hole throuJI it,
The popularity of so many portions
of ships rigging bearing names de-
rived from the trappings of a horse,
can only be accounted for from the
fact that the early warships were
manned by soldiers as well as sailors.
the natural consequence being that
they, the sailors, adapted some of
their terms to meet their fancy among
these being brides, whips, bits, stir
rups and the like.