fokiguild.blogg.se - Phrase dock it

Phrase dock it full#

Keel over – to fall over - also a sailor’s term for dying.The name was then used geographically to refer to the area itself rather than the state of the ships. In the middle of the century the word was used to denote the state of ships experiencing becalming in the area just north of the equator, between the Trade Winds. In 19th century the word “doldrum” meant a “dullard or dull fellow” so “the doldrums” was a general state of low spirits. In the doldrums – in low spirits or feeling drowsy or dull.In the 18th century though, it had a different meaning –“making steady progress”. It describes the action of hauling on a rope using alternate hands, so it is probably nautical. Hand over fist – quickly and continuously.Land was known as “The hard” as in Buckler’s Hard. A ship that was “hard and fast” was beached firmly on land. Hard and fast – rigidly adhered to – without doubt.It could also refer to anchoring a boat far enough away from another so that they did not hit each other when swinging with the wind or the tide. Sailors were warned to keep a wide bearing off something they needed to keep away from. The meaning of “berth” was probably “bearing off”. Originally a berth was a place where there was sea room to moor a boat. The “under” is likely to have meant “on the” and the “way” is the forward progress of the ship through the water so it actually means “on their way”. It probably first referred to heavily loaded ships.

Pronounced “gunnels”, it is the upper edge of a ship’s side in large vessels and the piece of timber extending round the top side of the hull in smaller craft.

Phrase dock it full#

Full to the gunwales – full to the brim or packed tight.It is possible that it derives from ships making a hasty departure by cutting the anchor rope and running with the wind.

A possible derivation is that when two blocks of rigging tackle were so close together they couldn’t be tightened further, it was said they were “chock-a-block”. Chocks are wedges used to secure moving objects and a block and tackle is a pulley system used on sailing ships to hoist the sails.

Chock a block – crammed tightly together to prevent movement.

It would have to be watertight and would need filling or caulking regularly, which would require a sailor to stand on the very edge of the deck or even be suspended over the side. The “devil” is the seam between the deck planking and the top plank of the ship’s side. The derivation seems obscure, but try this one.

Between the devil and the deep blue sea – faced with two dangerous alternatives.

When bad weather was expected the hatches were covered with tarpaulins and edged with thin wooden battens to stop them from blowing off. Ships hatches were often open or covered with a wooden grating. Battening down of walkways and hatches was done when bad weather was imminent.

Batten down the hatches – prepare for trouble.

“Tying up loose ends” is used to mean finalising details of a matter as a sailor makes fast the loose ends to ensure the boat is shipshape. Nautically, loose ends are unattached ones which are not doing their job. So if you are at a “loose end” and want to “know the ropes”, then “sling your hook”, “batten down the hatches” and “get underway” with these Nautical Sayings. While many everyday sayings certainly have genuine nautical origins, there are others which have unproven claims and still more where it is easy to find a logical link….even though not necessarily valid.