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Marine Terms
The Academy
Question | Answer |
---|---|
adrift | loose from towline or moorings; scattered about; not in proper stowage |
as you were | cancel previous command |
aye, aye, sir! | i have received, understood and will obey |
aft | at, in, or toward the stern (rear) |
all hands | all members of a command |
ashore | any place outside of a naval or marine corps reservation |
batten the hatch | make it tight or secure, as against a storm |
belay | cancel previous command |
boot | recruit |
bow | the front portion of a ship |
breakout | take out of stock or storage; to prepare for use |
brig | a place of confinement; a prison |
bulkhead | wall |
captains mast | office hours, time for discipline, complaints |
carry on | continue |
cathole | field head usually dug 1 foot wide and 1 foot deep |
chop-chop | very quickly |
chow | food |
chow hound | one who much enjoys eating |
clear the deck | clear the area by rearranging furniture, etc., to make way for a different activity |
cover | replace headgear |
deck | floor |
esprit de corps | readiness for action and courage |
evening colors | ceremony of lowering the flag at sundown |
fantail | the main deck of a ship at the stern |
field day | general housekeeping, usually held once a week often on friday. on these days all hands get busy. every nook and corner is cleaned. all glass and brightwork polished (blitzed). |
fourragiere | military decoration, a double-loop of green and red braid worn on the shoulder given for distinguished service in france in wwI to the 5th and 6th marine regiments |
galley | shipboard kitchen; kitchen of a messhall; mobile field mess |
gangway | an opening in the rail giving access to the ship. a command announcement stand aside to let someone through |
gear | personal belongings, also equipment or tools |
g.i. | government issue, to clean thoroughly, sharp appearance, real neat. also, a "g.i. can" is a container to hold trash |
good duty | a popular duty station, a popular work assignment |
grinder | drill field |
gung ho | "can do!" (or, we can do it together!) |
hatch | door |
head | bathroom or washroom |
heavy weather | a stormy time. used as "heavy weather ahead," to warn someone of danger or trouble coming |
hitch | enlistment period |
irish pennant | string or thread hanging from a garment |
ladder | stairway |
leave | absence from duty on written authority or period longer than on a pass and permitting one to go to distant points |
liberty | off-duty |
line officer | one in command of regularly organized troops or a government base, post or station |
lucky bag | lost-and-found bag |
marine bible | marine guidebook |
mess hall | dining hall or dining room |
morning colors | ceremony of raising the flag at sunrise |
navy regs | articles approved by act of congress and thus made into the regulations governing the navy |
overhead | ceiling |
pass | written authority from proper official or nco permitting one to leave his duty post or station between certain hours or for a weekend |
passageway | door or corridor |
pipedown | quiet! |
pogey bait | candy, cookies |
police | to straighten up or to tidy up |
port | left side (as you face the front) |
p.t. | physical training |
rack | bed |
scosh | in short supply - small |
scuttlebutt | gossip or water fountain |
secure | to stop work. knock it off. stop |
semper fidelis | always faithful |
ship out | to change duty stations. recruits are 'shipped out' as soon as they are processed |
ship over | reenlist |
ship's services | commissary, theater, beauty shop, etc. on ship or at a post station where service personnel can obtain goods or services at low prices |
shove off | a command to a boat crew; used generally for 'get lost' (as in, 'get away from here') |
sick bay | hospital or dispensary |
sick call | a set time when one is permitted to go to sick bay or dispensary for medical attention |
skivvies | underwear |
skipper | commanding officer |
skylark | goof-off; to loiter |
smoking lamp | term carried over from days of sailing ships when used on shipboard. smoking lamps were available to light pipes, when they were put out, that was the end of smoking |
squared away | to straighten, make ship-shape, or to get settled. to inform or admonish someone in an abrupt manner. |
stand by | a preparatory command, means prepare to execute. as in 'stand by to repel boarders' or 'stand by to receive visitors.' all hands stay in immediate area ready for the second part of command |
starboard | right side |
station | place of assigned work or your general duty area |
stern | the blunt end (rear) of a ship |
stow | to place in receptacle for storage; to pack |
stowage | room or place of storage; storeroom |
swab | a mop |
topside | upstairs; upper deck |
turn to | begin work; get started |
uncover | remove headgear |
watch | the lookout or sentry, also the period of duty time, generally hours on shipboard, when one portion of a ships crew is taking turns with another |