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Category Archives: Language
Of Painting Forth Bridge, Paddles and Creeks, Sand and Tides
I recently learned a new figure of speech – “like painting the Forth Bridge,” which refers to a job which is never completed. Or at least it used to mean that. The Forth Bridge is a cantilever railway bridge over … Continue reading
Do They Serve Canned Meat on the USCG Harriet Lane?
I will admit to doing a double take when I saw the USCG press release announcing “Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane returns home after 9-week patrol.” I wondered, who would name a ship the Harriet Lane? For the record, the … Continue reading
Posted in Current, Language, Lore of the Sea, Ships
Tagged canned meat, Fanny Adams, President James Buchanan, sailor slang, USCG Harriet Lane
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An Historic Hull on Hallowed Ground: a Brigantine, a Brig, A Snow, a Schooner – ah Fuggedaboutit!
There was an amusing bit of bantering and ballyhooing about ship jargon in the New York Times yesterday. In an article about the remains of ship found in the excavation near the new World Trade Center (see our previous posts here) … Continue reading
Posted in Current, History, Language, Lore of the Sea, Ships
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“A Collision at Sea…” the Most Famous Thing Thucydides Never Said
Thucydides is often said to have first written, “A collision at sea can ruin your entire day, ” in his epic history, The Peloponnesian War. While the statement is unquestionably true, Thucydides never wrote it. Today the New York Times’ Fred Shapiro … Continue reading
Posted in Language, Lore of the Sea
Tagged Fred Shapiro, Navy Capt. W. B. “Bill” Hayler, New York Times, Peloponnesian War, Thucydides
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Sailors’ and Fishermans’ Superstitions
Martin Evans on the Marine History List posted a collection of sailors’ superstitions from the current issue of “Fishing Boats”.
The Holy Ground – Songs, Sailors, and Women of Easy Virtue
I am every fond of the Irish sea song “Holy Ground”. The song is about a sailor bound for sea, leaving his lady love and hoping to return. “And still I live in hope to see the Holy Ground once more..” … Continue reading
Posted in Language, Lore of the Sea, Songs
Tagged burning bush, colonial new york, holy ground, irish songs, prostitution, red light district, sea songs
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Sailor Talk – “Kissing the Gunner’s Daughter” and “Sucking the Monkey”
One of my particular frustrations with the “Talk-Like a Pirate Day” folks is that even if one ignores the very nasty nature of pirates, historical and modern alike, a second and perhaps even great problem remains. The Talk-Like-a-Piraters do such … Continue reading
Posted in Language
Tagged coconut, kissing the gunners daughter, monkey pump, rum, sailor talk, Sir Walter Scott, sucking the monkey, talk like a pirate
3 Comments
Thank You for Not Talking Like A Pirate
If by good fortune you missed the “International Talk Like a Pirate Day”, just as well. If you managed to pass the day without a single “Aargh” or “Shiver Me Timbers” congratulations. I have a rather good sense of humor … Continue reading
