Some moe words and phrases from the English Language

1. More Nautical Words and Phrases Cut and Run In 1588, the Spanish Armada, ‘Cut and Ran’ when they were threatened by ‘Fire Ships’ in the narrowest part of the English Channel. When at anchor in a confined space, the sails were furled and held up to the yards by rope yarns, in an emergency these could easily be ‘cut’ so releasing the sails to make a quick getaway. The anchor cable could also be cut and marked with a buoy for recovery later, if possible

2. The Bitter End Used to describe something that goes on to “the very end”, “until the last moment” When at anchor on a 1st rate ship of the line, the Cable came into the ship through the ‘Hawse Holes’ located in the bow of the ship and then secured to the ‘Riding Bitts’ - these were large baulks of hardwood cross-timbers located at the forward end of the Lower Gun Deck and incorporated deep into the structure of the ship. These ‘held the ship’ at anchor, the cable was then ‘stopped back’ along the Lower Gun Deck………….

3. In bad weather it would sometimes become necessary to ‘veer’ or release the cable in a controlled way, so easing the tension on the ship’s Anchor Cable. Remember this cable is 24 inches in circumference, has a breaking strain of 120 tons and itself weighs 6 tons. If the cable was veered to very nearly it’s end :- ‘This was The Bitter End’ . If necessary, another cable could be attached to lengthen the cable.

4. “ Nipper” Still in use today in the English language, as an endearing term, in reference to a small boy in the family. “Our Nipper plays in the local football team” It derives from the young and agile boys of the ship, these were used to assist in the hauling in of the Anchor and Cable using the Ship’s Capstan. They were the ‘nippers’ Their task was to ‘bind’ or ‘nip’ together the anchor cable and messenger, in motoring terms, a form of ‘rope clutch’. It was the messenger that was passed around the capstan and supplied the power of 240 men to move the cable and so raise the Anchor. Depending on wind and tide, it could take up to 8 hours to raise the Anchor.

5. Used to rouse someone from their bed. Show a Leg ! Up until 1840, while the ship was in harbour, the crew were allowed to have their ‘wives’ onboard. These were usually ‘ladies of ill repute’ that had been ferried out to the ships in the harbour. This was good for the morale of the men that had been to sea for extended periods and were not allowed ashore in case that they never came back, remember , in those days up to 60% of a crew could be ‘pressed men’. That is to say, men who had been legally ‘kidnapped from the streets’ and forced to serve in the Navy

6. So, try and imagine , if you can, the Lower Gun deck on a First rate ship of the Line such as HMS Victory. 186ft in length 51ft at it’s widest housing some 500 men! Get the picture? Then add the Wives and Girl Friends in harbour. It apparently became such a scene of debauchery, that it was not visited by the Officers. So, in the morning the Bo’suns would go around the decks calling “Show a Leg” if a shapely leg was thrust from the hammock, the occupant was allowed a further 30 minutes in the hammock, for their own decorum. The rest of the men had to rise and clear the deck. Show a Leg !

7. Son of a gun Women would often give birth onboard ship whilst in harbour, they could also give birth at sea, Officers were allowed to take their wives to sea with them. The confinement area would normally be set up between the guns. It is said that in cases of a difficult birth, the adjacent guns would be fired to shock the women into giving birth. In the Navy EVERYTHING that happens aboard is recorded in the Ship’s Log. Invariably, the women would not know the Surname of the Father of her child, so:- “Born today – Charles - Son of a Gun”. The Christian name was of their choice or ‘Sally Daughter of a Gun’ could also used, but is no longer in to-days everyday vocabulary