Nautical Expressions
from
The Age of Sail

Leeway

“She’s only ten years old. Why don’t you give her some leeway?”

Derivation: The “weather side” of a ship is the side from which the wind is blowing. The “lee side” is the side that’s sheltered from the wind. A “lee shore” is a shore that’s downwind, onto which a ship can be driven if it doesn’t have enough “leeway.”

Over the Barrel

“Kevin tried to do it himself, but now he’s over the barrel.”

Derivation: A sailor being flogged was tied to a grating, a mast, or “over the barrel” of a deck cannon.

 

Know the ropes

“I wanted to let her take over the project, but she really doesn’t know the ropes.”

Derivation: A square-rigged ship had literally miles of cordage or rope (called “lines.”) The only way to keep track and know the function of all these lines was to know where each one was located. It took experience to “know the ropes.”

Dressing down

“After that dressing down, I don’t know if I ever want to see him again.”

Derivation: Thin, worn sails were treated with oil or wax to make them impermeable to wind and increase their effectiveness. This was called “dressing down.” This was also the term for a reprimand given to an officer or sailor.

 

Footloose

“They’re footloose in the Rockies.”

Derivation: The bottom of a sail is its “foot.” If it is not secured, it is “footloose” and dances randomly in the wind.

 

First rate

“Sara is a first rate pilot.”

Derivation: Until the advent of steam, British naval ships were rated by the number of heavy cannon they carried. A ship of 100 or more guns was a “first rate” line-of-battle ship. Second rates carried 90 to 98 guns; third rates 64 to 89; fourth rates 50 to 60. Frigates carrying 48 to 20 guns were fifth and sixth rated.

Pipe down

“They didn’t pipe down until after midnight.”

Derivation: The “pipe down” was the last signal from the bosun’s pipe each day which meant “lights out” and “silence.”

 

Chock-a-block

“You can’t fit another thing, it is absolutely chock-a-block.”

Derivation: If two blocks of rigging tackle were so hard together they could not be tightened further, they were “chock-a-block.”

 

Windfall

“It was a windfall from an unknown aunt.”

Derivation: A “windfall” was a sudden, unexpected and helpful rush of wind from a mountainous shore that allowed a ship more leeway.

Groggy

“I staggered to my feet, groggy and nauseous.”

Derivation: In 1740, British Admiral Vernon wore a cloak of grogram, or grosgrain. His nickname was “Old Grog,” and he was the first to order rum served to sailors diluted rather than straight. The men called the mixture “Grog”, and a man who drank too much was said to be “groggy.”

 

Three sheets to the wind

“He stumbled over the slick, wet cobblestones, three sheets to the wind.”

Derivation: A “sheet” is a rope line that controls the tension on the downwind side of a square sail. If, on a three-masted fully rigged ship, the sheets of the three lower course sails are loose, the sails will flap wildly and are said to be “in the wind.” A ship in this condition would stagger and wander aimlessly downwind.

 

Pooped

“No, he couldn’t finish. Said he was pooped, if you can believe it….”

Derivation: The poop is the stern section of the ship. To be “pooped” was to be swamped by huge, following seas. Azuba feared being “pooped” when they went eastwards round The Horn.

As the crow flies

 

“It’s only fifteen miles to the Bay of Fundy as the crow flies.”

Derivation: When lost or unsure of their position in coastal waters, captains would release a caged crow. The crow would fly straight towards the nearest land. The tallest lookout platform on a ship came to be known as the “crow’s nest.”

 

By and large

“By and large, Maritimers are friendly people.”

Derivation: By means “into the wind,” and large means “with the wind,” as in, “By and large the ship handled well.” This may also be the derivation of the term, “It’s a large day.”

 

Toe the line

“..hauled him up before the police…I expect he’ll toe the line for some time now…”

Derivation: When called to line up at attention, the crew would form up with their toes touching a seam in the deck planking, thus toeing the line.

Slush fund

“They put the money from the sale of used books in the slush fund.”

Derivation: A slushy slurry of fat was obtained by boiling or scraping down empty salted meat barrels. The ensuing “slush” was sold ashore by the ship’s cook, and the money given to himself and the crew. Such money was know as a slush fund.

 

Under the weather

“She called to say she’s under the weather. We’ll have to find a substitute.”

Derivation: Anyone standing watch on the weather side of the ship was subject to constant wind, spray, and pounding waves. The position was called being under the weather.

 

Start over with a clean slate

“Starting high school gives him an opportunity for him to start over with a clean slate.”

Derivation: A slate tablet was kept near the helm on which the watch keeper would record speeds, distances, headings, and tacks during the watch. If there were no problems, the slate would be wiped clean so that the new watch could start over with a clean slate.

Above board

“There will be no secrets. Everything said in this committee room is above board.”

Derivation: Anything on or above the open deck, open and in plain view, was above board.

 

Rummage sale

“I found Gladys the plastic goose in a rummage sale.”

Derivation: From the French, “arrimage,” meaning “ship’s cargo.” Damaged cargo was sold at a rummage sale.

 

A square meal

“It’s the first square meal they’ve had since their ordeal.”

Derivation: In good weather, the crew’s mess was given a hot meal served on square wooden platters.

Overbearing

“If you think she’s an overbearing bitch, wait until you meet her husband.”

Derivation: To sail downwind directly at another captain’s ship, thus “stealing” or diverting the wind from his sails: overbearing.

 

Taken aback

“I was taken aback by his outrageous response.”

Derivation: A dangerous situation where the wind is on the wrong side of the sails, pressing them back against the mast, and forcing the ship astern. Most often this was caused by an inattentive helmsman who had allowed the ship to head up into the wind. To be taken aback.

 

At loggerheads

“I think we should get off the river immediately, but Charles and Tim are at loggerheads again, and can’t come to a decision.”

Derivation: An iron ball attached to a long handle was a loggerhead. When heated, it was used to seal the pitch in deck seams. It was sometimes a handy weapon for quarrelling crewmen.

No great shakes

“He thinks he’s such a fine chef, but that meal was no great shakes.”

Derivation: When casks became empty they were “shaken” (taken apart) so the pieces, called “shakes,” could be stored in a small space. Shakes had very little value.

 

Scuttlebutt

“Ask Sue. She’s always got the scuttlebutt.”

Derivation: A butt was a barrel. Scuttle meant to chop a hole. The scuttlebutt was a water barrel with a hole cut into it so that sailors could reach in and dip out drinking water. The scuttlebutt was the place where the ship’s gossip was exchanged.