As a follow-on from our Nautical Terms article, here are more fascinating sailing expressions and their stories. Some origins are debated, so – as always – take them with a pinch of salt!
Clean Bill of Health
This phrase comes from an official document once issued to ships leaving port, certifying that no infection or epidemic was present at the time of departure. Today, a clean bill of health means someone is fit and well.
Batten Down the Hatches
To batten down the hatches is to prepare for trouble. On sailing ships, deck openings called hatches were usually open or covered with wooden gratings for ventilation. When storms threatened, they were sealed with tarpaulin secured by wooden strips, or battens.
Toe the Line
Meaning to behave or conform, this comes from sailors standing for inspection. The seams between planks on a ship’s deck formed clear lines. Crews were ordered to stand in formation with their toes just touching a chosen seam – literally toeing the line.
Boot Camp
Now a term for tough military-style training, boot camp began in the Spanish-American War. Navy and Marine recruits wore leggings called boots, and training facilities for these recruits became known as boot camps.
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
This saying means facing two equally unpleasant choices. The devil was the longest seam on a wooden ship, running from bow to stern along the outer hull. Caulking it required a sailor to hang over the side of the vessel, suspended precariously between the devil and the sea.
Footloose
To be footloose is to be free of ties or commitments. The foot of a sail is its lower edge, which must be secured to the boom to control it. If not attached, the sail was said to be footloose – free to flap uncontrollably in the wind.
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Related Articles: Nautical Slang | Nautical Sayings | Sailing Quotes
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