Mr. Outboard's Fishing Newsletter
October, 2007
Question of the Month
A previous Question of the Month about nautical terms brought about more questions about weird boating terms. Some research found some more interesting but also unimportant information.
"Mark Twain." A term used in river navigation, "mark twain" means water that is two fathoms (or about 12 feet) deep.
"The Whole Nine Yards" The expression comes from the nautical term "yard," meaning one of the horizontal poles that hold up the sails on a square-rigged sailing ship. A typical ship, he claimed, would have three masts with three yards apiece, or nine yards in all. A captain who had sent up all the canvas he could in order to squeeze out max velocity would thus be said to be giving it "the whole nine yards."
"As the Crow Flies" British vessels used to carry crows on board as the birds do not like water and will head directly to the nearest land when released or "as the crow flies." This was especially useful when visibility was poor; the ship simply followed the crow. And the lookout perched up high to watch the crow’s path naturally found himself sitting in the "crow’s nest."
"Passing With Flying Colors" Is a modern-day accolade for doing well on a test. Back then ships hung their colors out to be identified by the ships they passed at a distance. Which leads to...
"Showing your True Colors" Something pirate ships often did not do.
Being "Under the Weather" Back then could lead you to feeling the modern meaning of the word: ill or out of sorts. In the olden days of sailing, under the weather referred to the crewmember who had to man the weather bow, the area most vulnerable to the wet sea spray and the unpleasant aspects of the boat’s movement and pitch.
Being "Above Board" Was and still is a good thing. Pirates hid their crews below deck until ready to strike. An above board vessel had nothing to hide.
"The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" The devil was the longest seam of the ship, thought to be the first plank on the outer hull of a wooden vessel from stem to stern. When at sea and the devil had to be caulked, the sailor hung from a rope to do so. He was suspended between the devil and the sea — a very precarious position, especially when the ship was underway.
"The Bitter End" The end of the anchor line secured to a sturdy post on the deck called a bitt. The line was paid out in order to set the anchor. However, if the water was deeper than anticipated the rope would pay out to the bitter end . . . ooops.
"Cut and Run" Most often thought to mean the cutting of hemp cable with an ax in an effort to make a quick getaway, often from pirates. Hard to imagine that many ship's masters enjoyed routinely losing an anchor or two, so it is probably more likely referring to the practice of securing the sails of a square-rigged ship with rope yarns that could easily be cut away when a quick departure was necessary.
"Deep Six" A fathom, the unit of measurement in most maritime countries for the depth of the sea, is six feet. Sailors used the term to refer to throwing something overboard and it has come to mean getting rid of something.
"Figurehead" An ornamental figure placed on the front of a ship, under the bowsprit. Originally a religious and/or protective emblem. The custom continued but for purely decorative purposes. Hence the term figurehead - a leader with no real power or function except to 'look good' or appeal to a certain group.
"Knowing the Ropes" This is pretty obvious if you've ever seen a tall ship. It was such an important skill on sailing vessels that an honorable discharge from service was marked, at one time, with the term 'knows the ropes'. Land-side it still means a person with experience and skill.
~Jan
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Mr. Outboards Newsletter
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