Nautical terms that have sailed into everyday language

What is the issue?

This curious observation stems from a week spent sailing around The Solent with a friend on the south coast of England. As we chatted from morning till night, we began noticing recurring phrases we used in non sailing related discussions stemmed from the marine. These phrases kept halting our conversations, as we started to increasingly identify the sailing jargon that had become common sayings, and started to wonder about it.

Why address this?

Here's an opportunity to delve into these linguistic curiosities and, with a bit of insight, annoy people who've grown weary of your sailing stories. Armed with these insights you can use their own phrases to turn countless conversations back to sailing by pointing out the maritime origins.

How to address this?

Numerous common phrases have their roots in maritime language, particularly from the British Navy, which played a pivotal role in establishing Britain's global dominance during the 17th to 19th centuries. As sailors explored the world, they brought back not only goods but also a wealth of language and expressions that have permeated society.

This cultural exchange, as sailors interacted with diverse cultures and communities, led to the integration of nautical terms and phrases into the English language. This rich maritime legacy continues to shape our communication to this day. Much of which sails right over our heads.

UNEXPECTED MARINE ORIGINS
BEAR UP UNDER THE STRAIN
Today, "bearing up under the strain" signifies enduring or facing hardship with courage and a positive attitude. Originating from Old English and Middle English (circa 1225-1813), "bear up" was initially used transitively to mean "to lift or raise something upward."
The term was quickly adopted in sailing to describe a specific technique for navigating heavy weather. The helmsman would steer the vessel into the wind, causing the sails to stall and reduce wind pressure. This manoeuvre, also known as "coming up" or "luffing up," allowed the boat to recover from strong gusts and prevent broaching.

BY AND LARGE
First recorded in Mariners Magazine in 1669, "Thus you see the ship handled in fair weather and foul, by and large," the term "by and large" originally referred to a ship that sails in winds alternately close-hauled and with the wind abaft the beam.

A ship sailing close-hauled has its sails tightly drawn in to sail as directly into the wind as possible, typically within about 45 degrees of the wind's direction. This is referred to as "by the wind." In contrast, "large" refers to a point of sail where the wind is abaft the beam, or behind the ship. In this position, the vessel can set as much sail as possible to capture the wind, making its sail plan "large."
Therefore, from a nautical perspective, "By and large, the ship handled very well" means that, on the whole, and considering all factors, the ship performed well in a range of wind conditions. It also hints at the ship's versatility in handling different sail configurations to achieve optimal performance.

LETTING THE CAT OUT OF THE BAG
The cat here is the 'cat o' nine tails' a whip consisting of nine knotted cords or lashes attached to a handle widely used for corporal punishment, especially in the Royal Navy and military contexts. The nine cords are said to represent the nine lives of a cat and the marks left by the whip were thought to resemble scratches from a cat's claws.

The 'cat-o'-nine-tails' was stored in a red baize bag to conceal the blood drawn on its sack, and a sailor who revealed the transgressions of another would be 'letting the cat out of the bag'.

NOT ENOUGH ROOM TO SWING A CAT
Now used to describe a room say, ‘There isn’t enough room to swing a cat in here!’ the term originated from the British Navy's harsh punishment by 'cat-o'-nine-tails' and the space required to swing it.

The cat-o'-nine-tails first appeared in 1665 to deal out punishments for sailor absences, drunkenness, or disobedience. One such punishment involved tying the offender to the ship's mast and flogging them with a whip-like instrument known as the 'cat-o'-nine-tails,' administered by another crew member, often the Bosun's Mate.

Due to the length of the whip, these floggings could not be carried out below deck. Instead, they occurred on the deck, providing ample space for the ship’s company to be mustered to witness the punishment. It is also used to describe the act of the crew crowding in around the event so that the whip hand might not have enough room to get the most swing out of the 'cat o’ nine tails'.

IF YOU SCRATCH MY BACK, I'LL SCRATCH YOURS
This is once again related to the British Navy's harsh punishments for sailors. Crew members often struck secret deals to administer the lash lightly, merely 'scratching' the offender's back. This ensured reciprocal treatment should they fall victim to the punishment in the future.

OVER THE BARREL
Another term is rooted in the British Navy's harsh disciplinary measures. It refers to the location where floggings were carried out, often on a grating, a mast, or, as the name suggests, over the barrel of a deck cannon.

SQUARE MEAL
The phrase "square meal" originates from the distinctive square-shaped food plates used by British Navy sailors. These plates were designed with a raised edge, often called a "fiddle," to prevent food from spilling in rough seaways.
The square design also served as a practical measure to limit portion sizes. As these plates were typically used for the most substantial meal of the day, the term "square meal" came to symbolize a hearty and satisfying meal. So hence a decent meal aboard was a 'square meal'.

FIDDLING
The term "fiddling," often associated with petty dishonesty, also has its roots in the British Navy's Square Plate. It refers to the act of a sailor overfilling their square plate, taking more food than their fair share. The excess food would spill or sit on the raised edge or "fiddle" of the plate, hence the term "on the fiddle." This practice was considered a minor offence and could be subject to punishment.

SLUSH FUND
A slush fund is a fund or account used for miscellaneous income and expenses sometimes illicit. The 'slush' heralds back to the slushy slurry of fat obtained by boiling or scraping the empty salted meat storage barrels of navy boats. This 'slush' was often sold ashore to tallow makers and the money so derived became known as a 'slush fund'.
The money generated from these sales was kept separate from the ship's official accounts and used to make minor purchases for the crew. Over time, the term "slush fund" has evolved to describe any fund, often secretive, used for miscellaneous or questionable expenses.

BITTER END
"I've reached the bitter end" originates from the nautical "bitter end" which refers to the inboard end of a ship's cable, typically secured to strong points known as bitts. When a ship's anchor cable is fully deployed, it has reached its bitter end. Thus, the expression is used metaphorically to signify a situation or resource that has been exhausted.

BITTER AND TWISTED
"bitter and twisted" refers to the ship's anchor line, often referred to as the "bitter end," which can become tangled or knotted, making it extremely difficult to untangle. This arduous task likened to a "devil of a job", has been metaphorically applied to describe a person with a spiteful or resentful nature.

BINGE
The term "binge" originally referred to the process of emptying a rum cask on a ship to make its storage available for refill or other purposes. The rum wasn't discarded but consumed by the crew, leading to a period of heavy drinking. Over time, this practice gave rise to the modern meaning of going on a "binge," or "binging out," referring to any period of excessive indulgence, particularly in alcohol or food.

BOTTOMS’ UP!
The phrase "Bottoms Up!" as a toast dates back to at least 1875, indicating its established place in drinking culture by that time. It is commonly used today as a toast to encourage someone to finish their drink, but it has a sinister origin linked to the deceptive practices of naval recruitment in 18th and 19th century England.

Naval recruiters, known as "press gangs," would entice potential recruits with the promise of the "King's Shilling," a monetary incentive to sign up for the navy. However, they would often resort to trickery. One such tactic involved dropping a shilling into a drink, unbeknownst to the unsuspecting patron. Once the person accepted and drank from the tankard, they were considered to have accepted the King's Shilling and were legally obligated to join the Navy. To avoid falling victim to this deception, bar owners and patrons began to check the bottom of their tankards before drinking, ensuring there were no hidden coins.

The phrase "Bottoms Up!" became a cautionary reminder, urging people to examine their drinks before consuming them. While the practice of pressing has long been abolished, the phrase "Bottoms Up!" remains a popular toast, albeit with a darker historical context.

However, the veracity of this tale is questionable. While the recruitment story is captivating, there's a dearth of historical evidence to corroborate it. Some etymologists contend that the Navy possessed adequate resources to recruit sailors without resorting to deceit, suggesting that this narrative might be more myth than fact. Nevertheless, considering the prevalence of alcoholism among sailors at the time, it's plausible that the promise of free rum could have been an enticing lure to bait a trap. Ultimately, you'll have to decide for yourself.

ALL DECKED OUT
In contemporary language, "to be decked out" means to be dressed in a very fancy way or to be decorated elaborately. But the term "all decked out" originates from the nautical practice of decorating ships with bunting and flags, particularly for celebrations or special occasions. This usage of "decked" dates back to at least the late 1700s, indicating a ship that is festively adorned with flying bunting as a decoration, and hence looked at its best. The term "deck" itself has been in use since Middle English, with the earliest known uses appearing around 1500.

OBVIOUS MARINE CONNECTIONS
EVERY NICE GIRL LOVES A SAILOR
The phrase "every nice girl loves a sailor" is a romantic notion often associated with the allure of the seafaring life. However, its origins are rooted in a more pragmatic and less sentimental context.

In 1809 the Waterguard, also known as the Preventative Boat Service, was formed around the British Isles and operated under Naval control from 1816 to 1822. The Waterguard was effectively a sea-based arm of revenue enforcement tasked with preventing smuggling and had nothing to do with the modern concept of lifesaving that one would think.

The unit was initially based in watch houses around the coast and it deployed boat crews to patrol the coast each night so as to detect and prevent smuggling. It moved from the navy to the control of the Board of Customs and in 1856 control of the Coast Guard passed to the Admiralty.

To maintain their focus and integrity, these officers were frequently relocated. This practice was implemented to prevent them from forming deep ties with local communities, particularly those with smuggling sympathies. It was feared that such connections could compromise their duties or worse be a device used by smuggler families to marry their female members to compromise the coastguards.

The saying "every nice girl loves a sailor" emerged as a cautionary reminder to these officers. It served as a warning against forming romantic attachments that could hinder their work and potentially lead to corruption. By frequently moving officers, the authorities aimed to minimise the risk of such entanglements.

While the phrase has evolved into a popular saying, its original intent was far more practical and cautionary. It highlights the challenges faced by those tasked with enforcing the law, especially in remote and isolated locations.

LOG AND BLOG
The term "log" originates from old maritime practices. A wooden chip, or log, was tossed overboard from a ship's bow. The time it took the stern to pass the floating log, measured by an hourglass or simple counting, provided a rough estimate of the ship's speed. This method, though still viable with experience, is impractical for measuring distance. It's also known as a "Dutchman's log."
Later, a triangular plank attached to a knotted cord was used. As the cord unwound, knots were counted over a fixed time interval, often 15 seconds, measured by a small hourglass. This led to the term "knot" for nautical speed. Subsequently, the Walker Log, a rotating impeller towed behind the ship, offered a more accurate method of measuring distance travelled. However, it was susceptible to damage or entanglement.

Modern impeller or electronic logs provide precise speed readings but require regular maintenance to prevent fouling by marine growth. A malfunctioning log can be hazardous, as it may underreport the distance travelled when navigating by 'Dead Reckoning', potentially leading the vessel into dangerous waters.

Historically the log readings were noted in a physical book and this became the ship's log. This extended to encompass a broader range of operational data, including weather conditions, routine events, significant incidents, crew information, and port visits.

The term "blog" is a portmanteau of "web" and "log." Coined by Jorn Barger in 1997 to describe his website, Robot Wisdom, it was initially referred to as a digital journal or diary. While "weblog" was used earlier, "blog" became the more popular term, popularised by Peter Merholz in 1999.

ALL ADRIFT
Now used to describe someone who is aimless, without direction or purpose in life. For example, "After losing his job, he was all adrift, not knowing what he was going to do with her life."

But the term "all adrift" originated from nautical usage in the early 17th century. It combines two elements: of (i) "All" - used for emphasis to mean completely or entirely. (ii) "Adrift" - which came into use around the 1620s, derived from the prefix "a-" meaning "on" and the word "drift".
In nautical contexts, being "adrift" referred to a ship or boat floating freely without control, not anchored or moored. The term "all adrift" likely emerged as an intensified form of this concept, when the rigging after a storm has been broken or unattached, and hence be ‘all adrift’ when normal control cannot be reestablished.

ALL HANDS TO THE PUMPS
In modern usage, "all hands to the pumps" is often employed in various contexts, from business emergencies to household crises, always emphasising the need for everyone to pitch in and help resolve a pressing situation.

The expression has its roots in seafaring practices. On wooden ships, it was common for some water to seep in through the hull, regardless of how well it was caulked. To prevent the ship from taking on too much water, vessels were equipped with bilge pumps to remove excess water from the hold.

However, in emergencies where a ship was taking on water rapidly and getting into trouble, in danger of sinking, the captain would call for "all hands to the pumps". This meant that every available crew member ("hand" being nautical slang for a crew member) was needed to operate the pumps and bail out water to keep the ship afloat.

With thanks to:

Michael Harpur with thanks to some great organised lounging with Stephen Skelly

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