NAVY GLOSSARY
ALL HANDS - Entire ship’s company.
AYE, AYE, SIR - Used by subordinates to seniors in acknowledging an order or command signifying that it is understood and will be carried out.
BATTEN DOWN - To close or make watertight, usually referring to hatches.
BEAR A HAND - Speed up work, or lend a hand.
BLUEJACKET - A Seaman in the United States Navy.
BREAK OUT - To unstow, or prepare for use.
CARRY ON - An order to resume work or duties.
CHARLEY NOBLE - Gally some-pipe.
CROSSING THE LINE - Crossing the Equator, at which time there is usually a ceremony during which they pollywog (landlubber) becomes a “shellback.”
CUT OF THE JIB - General appearance of a vessel or a person.
DITTY BOX/DITTY BAG - A small box or small canvas bag used by bluejackets for stowing small personal gear.
ENSIGN - The national flag: a junior commissioned officer in the Navy.
FIELD DAY - A day for general ship cleaning.
FLOATSUM - Floating wreckage, or goods thrown overboard.
GALLEY - The ship’s kitchen.
GRAVEYARD WATCH - The middle (mid) watch from 2400 to 0400.
HAND - A member of the ship’s crew.
HEAD - The ship’s toilet.
HIGH SEAS - The entire ocean beyond the three-mile limit where not nation has special privileges or jurisdiction (note: nations now claim 10 mile, 12 mile, or more limits).
HIT THE DECK - A phrase used to rouse men from their bunks at Reveille.
IRISH PENNANT - Untidy loose end of a line, (or loose threads on a uniform).
JETSOM - Goods which sink when thrown overboard at sea.
JUMPER - The blouse of a bluejacket’s uniform.
JURY RIG - A makeshift of mast and sail, or other gear.
KNOCK OFF - To stop; to stop work.
LANDLUBBER - Seaman’s term for one who has never been to sea.
LADDER - A metal, wooden, or rope stairway.
LIBERTY - Permission to be absent from a ship, or station for a period up to 48 hours. 72 hours on a three-day weekend. Anything longer than this is not liberty, but is leave charged to an individual’s leave balance.
LUCKY BAG - A locker for the stowage of loose articles of clothing and personal gear found aboard the ship, or station.
MAN - To put the proper number of men on a detail, so that the work can be done.
MAST - A vertical spar supporting the booms, gaffs and sails on a sailing vessel,; a spar supporting signal heard and antennae on a fighting ship; the term applied to the hearing of cases of offense against discipline, or for requests, or commendations.
OFFICER OF THE DECK (OOD) - The officer in charge of the ship during each watch and on deck as the Captain’s representative.
PADRE - Affectionate slang for the chaplain.
PASS THE WORD - To repeat an order, or information to the crew.
PHONETIC ALPHABET - A way of speaking letters so that they will be clearly understood; for example, an A is “Alpha,” and a B is “Bravo,” etc.
PIPE THE SIDE - The ceremony at the gangway in which side boys are drawn up and the boatswain’s pipe is blown when a high-ranking officer, or distinguished visitor comes aboard.
POLLYWOG - One who has never crossed the Equator.
QUARTER DECK - The part of the upper deck reserved for honors and ceremonies.
RANK - Grade of official standing of commissioned officers.
RATE - Grade of official standing of enlisted men.
RATLINE - A short length of small stuff running horizontally across shrouds.
ROCK AND SHOALS - Slang for Articles for the Government of the Navy. Precursor of the Uniformed Code of Military Justice. (UCMJ)
ROPEYARN
SUNDAY - a TIME FOR REPAIRING
CLOTHIN. In the late 1950’s Ropeyarn Sunday, when it was held at all,
was often held on Wednesday afternoon.
RULES OF THE ROAD
- Regulations prescribed to prevent collisions of ships.
SEA BAG - A large canvas bag for stowing the gear of a bluejacket.
SEABEES - Construction battalions (CB’s); nickname for bluejackets in a construction battalion.
SEA LAWYER - A seaman who is prone to argue, especially against recognized authority.
SHAKEDOWN CRUISE - Cruise of a newly commissioned ship to test out all machinery and train the crew.
SHELL BACK - One who has crossed the Equator and has been initiated.
SHIPSHAPE - Seamanlike and neat.
SHORE PATROL - Same as the Army’s Military Police.
SHOVE OFF - Slang for leaving.
SICK BAY - Ship’s hospital, or dispensary.
SKIPPER - Slang for the Captain.
SKIVVIES - Slang for underwear.
SMART - Snappy, seaman like [i.e. “Look Smart”]
SQUARE AWAY - To get things settled down, or in order to complete a job.
STAND BY - A preparatory order meaning “get ready.”
STOW - To put gear in its proper place.
STRIKER - A non-rated [sailor] who is qualifying for a petty-officer’s rate.
SWAB - A rope mop
TRICE - To haul up [Shipboard bunks used to be “triced” up]
TURN TO - An order to begin work [“Turn to” starts the working day; “Knock off” ends the working day.]
UNCOVER - Uncover hat.
VERY WELL Reply of an officer to a subordinate to indicate that the information given is understood.
WARDROOM - Officer’s assembly and mess room aboard a Navy ship.
WATCH - a POST OR PERIOD OF DUTY. [E.G. Quarterdeck watch; phone; dempsey dumpster watch; after lookout sounding watch etc.]
WEIGH
- To lift the anchor off the bottom.
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ACKNOWLEGEMENT OF INFORMATION SOURCE
Internet website for U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Selectees LTC Daniel Smith (TN)
member of The Society for Military History and member of