Sea farers' language

[Johnny Kieran]

A 'dog's cock' was a back splice in a rope

May well have been Ivan, but as I said, it's what it was called on the ships I sailed on. We'll blame the bosuns and lampy's for that, plus all the other ABs and deckhands.

[Ivan Cloherty]

May well have been Ivan, but as I said, it's what it was called on the ships I sailed on. We'll blame the bosuns and lampy's for that, plus all the other ABs and deckhands.

Especially the Bosuns who never read the 'Bosun's Manual'

[Ivan Cloherty]

further #92 'The Boatswains Manual (1944)' page 177 and 174 Manhelper also known as striker, usually bamboo pole about 6 - 12 feet in length and to which a paint brush is attached etc etc etc (see fig 35 manhelper

Page 185 'Dogs leg' (fig 4) angled head brush, also known as a 'Gasinta'

[Des Taff Jenkins]

I didn't know there was a Bosuns manual, I was a leading hand in NZ and managed with my sea going knowledge, as I'm sure did many bosuns I sailed with.
Des

[Ivan Cloherty]

I didn't know there was a Bosuns manual, I was a leading hand in NZ and managed with my sea going knowledge, as I'm sure did many bosuns I sailed with.
Des

You missed out on one of life's little pleasures there then Des, makes for interesting reading, 250 pages of things you already know, things you thought you knew and things you never knew. We all learnt on the job (pardon the expression) but sometimes you are taught incorrectly and inherit that same mistake, (like parents teaching their kids to drive). I am of the opinion that you are never too old to learn, without grandkids (our own or others) where would we get our computer knowledge . I for one am not ashamed to consult reference books, of which I have many, if I doubt my own recollections as our brains are old and full and the internal workings take time to bring information to the fore at times. The old adage of what we don't know won't hurt us, is not always true, at times what you don't know could get you killed.

[Johnny Kieran]

The thing about language, is that it can be changed. A bosuns manual may hold the correct terminology for things of a seagoing nature, but like most things in life, other languages creep in. One bosun may call out "heave that line" another may call out "chuck that effin line". I've had a second mate tell me to "give it a little bit of right" while I was on the wheel. "Over the side" was often "over the wall". I think it matters not one iota, as long as we understand what's needed.

[Ivan Cloherty]

. I think it matters not one iota, as long as we understand what's needed.

Hi Johnny and that's when things may start to go wrong, as the transmitter and receiver may be on different wave lengths, thus a need for a common language

[John Gill]

Sod the pay off get the bronzy.

[Captain Kong]

The Americans also have different sayings to us,
I was was on the wheel taking an Esso Tanker from San Francisco to Benicia up the Bay.
The Pilot says, " Hard Right Rudder" I said , "Yer What?", "Hard Right Rudder , Godammit"

I looked at the Captain, he says, " I think he means , Hard a Starboard".,

[happy daze john in oz]

Language changes all the time, just look at the use of English now compared to years ago.
Here in Oz for example we are Americanised in our speech more and more, the foot path is now the side walk, the boot the trunk and the bonnet the hood.
Motorways are freeways, and so it goes.
But we did get rid of feet and inches along with pounds and pence.
Makes it very hard for cappy now with his 3/9.