Some Nautical Terms Fit to Print

Every so often I am reminded of some nautical terms that we used aboard ship when I was in the Navy. After spending a week with a group of active duty Coastguardsmen a few words and phrases have resurfaced. Several of them are fit to print. Lets talk about some of those.

On ships and boats, a storage room (compartment) is referred to as a "locker." Navy ships have a chain locker for the anchor chain, a paint locker, a rope locker and various other "gear" lockers. It shouldn't surprise you that over time the shower became known as the "rain locker." Also, since the younger sailors perceived the Chief Petty Officers as "old goats," the chief's quarters became known as the "goat locker."

Most ships have more than just a few places to "hide out" away from work where a sailor could "goof off" for a while. In the Navy, one term for "goofing off" is "skate'n" (skating). If you are goofing off you are "skate'n." If you have an easy job compared to most others, you are said to have a "skate'n" job.

One way to be "skate'n" is to go to sickbay and complain of some mysterious stomach illness or pain in your back. If the ship's doctor fell for it, he would give you an excuse to get out of work. If he did, you were said to be on the "binnacle list."

The "binnacle" was the brass structure to which the helm and ship's compass was mounted on old ships. It was the custom for the ship's surgeon to make a list of officers and members of the crew that were ill and not fit for work. The surgeon would leave the list attached to the binnacle on the bridge. Over time, that list became known as the "binnacle list."

At the opposite end of a sailor's vocabulary from "skate'n" is the phrase "turn to." It means get to work. At the beginning of the workday, the announcement that all Navy sailors hear is "Now, turn to, commence ships work." At the end of the workday the announcement is "Now, knock off ships work."

When a sailor is attending a training class, he/she is expected to do well on the test at the end. When I was in the Navy, the highest scoring sailor in class was called the "Honor Man." The lowest scoring sailor was called the "Anchor Man." In today's Navy, I'm sure there is an "Honor Woman" and an "Anchor Woman" as well.

There are a few "wild goose chase" traditions in the Navy. At some point a young seaman apprentice, right out of boot camp, will be working on something where a length of line is needed to tie a piece of gear down. His supervisor is likely to send him to the Chief Boatswains Mate for 50 feet of "water line."

A young fireman apprentice at one time or another will be sent to the boiler room for a "bucket of steam." An airman apprentice (on an aircraft carrier) will be sent all over the ship looking for a "sky hook." These are just a few errands that kept us sailors entertained at sea.

Until next time, I wish you clear skies, fair winds, and calm seas!