El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-01-17
'GOBALECT' IS
JACK TAR TALK
Ell Paso Recruiters Spring
a Bunch of Slang With
Flavor of the Briny.

I the United States navy should learn
| something about 'gobalect," which is
the language spoken on -shipboard. or
they may not be able to understand all
of the letters written home by the
young men who are serving their
country on the sea
Yeoman D. E johnson and yeoman
E. L. Cunningham. who constitute the
clerical force at the local naval re-
cruiting station, would like TO give
special instructions to naval recruits
in "gobalect," but the time is so short
before the prospective seaman leaves
that there isn't much time to initiate
him into the mysteries Of the sea
language.
"GobaIect is composed of words
from many languages, of all countries
which ships of the United States navy
have visited. A small dictionary
would be necessary to contain list
Of all the words, but the most impor-
tant are given as follows;
A. B. C. of Tars' Talk.
Apple knockers a native son OF Or
egon.
Black gang, engineers force; fire
men, oilers and wipers.
Boilers, the bOilermaker.
Chips, the carpenters mate.
Coppers, the coppersmith.
Commy. the commissary steward
Charley Noble, the galley (kitchen)
smokestack.
Cob, a Malay word, meaning new
conner, but now used to designate the
man-o'-war's man
Galley. the ships kitchen
Gazoonibait, anything sweet, as
cakes or candy.
Jimmylegs. or legs" the master at
arms, or ships policeman
Kanaka, a Hawaiian
Keno, that's all; the end
Mast. the daily court, where Offend
ers face the skipper" and are as
signed punishment
Naskfi, good; all right.
Ping pong, ~ouills," the yeoman
Pune Prune picker. a native son of Cali
sails. the saflmaker's mate.
Siggie mao, hurry up
Sparks, the electrician
Shake a leg, get a wiggle on"
hurry up.
shove off, move on
Slumgullion, the famous navy stew.
Scuttlebutt, the drinking fountain
Topside, up above; the upper deck.
Fish eyes, tapioca pudding.
The lighthouse, salt cellar.
Bugs. the bugler-
Sea dust. salt.
Paymaster's bouquet, saltwater
Chow, food; meals.
Pipe down. keep quiet; shut up
Get underway. to up-anchor; move
There are many other things to be
learned in the navy besides what is
taught at drills. Naval poetry is quite
voluminous. One OF the traditional
bits of verse that every recruit soon
hears of is known as the * Y rs OF
AS for apprentice. by old timers held
BIS for bonehead Cwe've lots Of 'em
Cs for captain, who bosses your ship;
DIS for damn it-excuse me, that
slipped.
Els for ensign, future admiral, per-
haps,
Fs for friIls, seen on sea going chaps
G's for girls. 'nough said, guess,
HIS for high ball, you know the rest!
rs for it, you've been 1t, too,
Us for Jackie. Oh, you cute kid in
KS for kissing, your shipmate's best
LIS for loving; all the girls in the
world.
Ms for money, which the darn fools
soon blow,
Ms for nothing, which they get for
their dough.
O's for officer-petty, perhaps, and
P's for payday, when we start shoot
ing craps
Q's for quarters. round ones preferred,
RS for running, when you're real
scared.
SIS for stealing, your shipmate's good
booze,
rs for tobacco, which all sailors use.
US for united-spliced, I should say,
W Well, you've got me. I'll throw
that away
W. Gee, that's for wine
X? holy mackerel, I can't make that
rhyme
US for Yonson, and Tonson's Swede,
rs for the letter we don't often need