The state herald., 1900-11-09
SAILORS SLANG.
EXPLANATION Or SOME OF TIE
MOST EXPRESSIVE IDiOMS
OF THE NEA.

| MOol EAfhESotNE "a iutOMo
Or THE SEA.
The" Handy Man" .uys The i.outlo,i
Express, has ready wit anil II perfect
genius Tor inveniing slang terms. Here
are n few examples.
When II person meets with rebuff
Jnck excla'ms that he has received e..
slap ov, the bows" or that "he has been
brought up wi h n round turn To be
pulled mp suddenly for ANY ofrense ~ to
be drought up oil standing To be
"planked" is to be charged on the quar-.
terdeck before one of the ships officers.
A tnlkative man is described MS on
who il always ''chawuC his avn tat
When man j. lioprl, S., fr.unk h. ~
SAID To hav- las 'uack tech awHs,
SemidrnpkennPss ia described as being
three sheets in the wind" or "hall seas
over man of strange manners is
suspected OF having "klnk" IN his
mind. Acute hunger is likened TO ones
"belly tapping against ones backbone"
When Jack resorts to personalities he
does not believe in half f-mensares. A
stupid person is called the "two ends
and the hight Of n fool" + the non
nautical reader 1t may be p.entioneJ
that the "bight" OF rope includes that
part between the two ends. To be
''kegRed" is to lie jeered NJ. A "kiddy
fellow" is one who is nat,y in appear
ance.
A man who is pale must not feel hurt
IL he is told that lie has - faco like n
scrubbed hammock" while an unpopu-
lar member OF the crew is not unfrequ.
entity called a "swab." Not to like the
"cut OF his jib" is another term OF DIS
approval.
The expression ''sea lawyer" and "sky
pilot are TOO well known 10 need cxpann
iion here. To he told that you arc ian
old soldier, but yonug sailor" does
not imply n compliment This revrr,e
however, 10 the case when you describe
a man ms having every finger msrl,us
spike and ev, ry HAIR rope yarn" Suci
n man. in Jacks -ye-, IL q good sailor,
To toe the line or zoe pitch" 10 ft
keep straight. "Capght aback" is to Il
suddenly surprised. When anything
Takes charge" 1t IL surprised to be out
Of hand. "SliPpy" is TO liz quick. wh'ls
ship shape aud Bristol fasbiou" Implies
that Thing is to he done in good style.
To do thii g Handsomely" is to exhibit
snariness in it's performance.
When Jack wants u rest he says he
will take s"speli"-i, may bc on dsck or
below
After a more than ordinary hearty
meal Jack will ~ ou, reef IN his
belt and exclaim ibht he is "ch Oh n
block" To be compelled TO Inv. on u
daily allo~snce of u "ponnd and u pint
il to he reduced 10 Tho bare raiions al
loEed by the sersi e. To lie graniei
"liberiy" TO have leave of absence
| from the ship.
When the watch are called Of MOI
uiug they are expected "to show ler,'
Nc nm Indication that they hcar the sum.
mons and are aboat to "turn cut
1 ifa man receives mouths advance OF
wages before joining his ship. he is ss'd
10 bo "aofking on the bead horse"
dufirg his first month Mt sea. This
period Is not iufrrqu.ntly referred to ss
"a month of suniays," T. convey the iu
preston that the tune seems inord,nate
ly long.
In boisiing a boa, TO tho dsylts the
crew marry ih. fall-," VIZ. join both
ropes together. To bc "k.el hauled is
for man to be dragged from one u le oi
the ship 10 tho other beneath tho ship's
keel. This iike "walkipg the plank
aud ,henr- overheard, isa custom that
obtain, d nj the bsg,Dning OF the cen
tury. k-e..haulin. Is ap,iy described
ns undergoing ~ great hardship"
When n ship Ia homeward bound md
making , rnp'd pssase. II Ia raid ,ha,
III. "eirls have got hold of th. tow rope
aud nr. hauling ber home hand "ror
hasj." 10 keep the land aboard" IL "a
,ail within eight ~ u. A request ia
"lcnd Us your pound" conveys. not de
sir. for lonu. but Nh appeal Tor uddi
iiobal assistance IN man weight when
hauling on rop.. To opaibi 8 thing par
TALLY y to ri,c TIA lick and promis..'
10 cleaning brass ~ork on board shir
two men usually wu'k together and keel
their rags aud other material IN opv boz
When they qunri.l-ns Jack occasionally
does aud separation "osurs. they at.
said to spar Hssa rinRs," Tor at such
times each man takes aud hc.pa b.. osn
articles Tor polishing ~. Loni. I.spub.
lie.
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