As the crow flies'', ''chunder'', ''cold enough to freeze the balls off
a brass monkey'', ''three sheets to the wind'' - many terms like these
are used in everyday English language conversation and writing. But how
many landlubbers know that they derive from naval slang or know what the
phrase originally referred to? The navy has helped to shape modern
society. The navy is famous for its traditions, quirks and nuances. It
is disinctly different to wider society and nowhere is this more evident
than in language. The naval community once had its own language,
incomprehensible to anyone who was not a sailor, which described and
explained his unique world. But on shore leave these men introduced
their language to the populations of bustling ports and harbours and the
usage slowly spread inland. Today through the mediums of film,
television and music, naval slang has been brought to the wider public
and has become fully integrated into the English language to point where
many phrases are used by people who have no concept of their meaning.
Presenting terminology thematically, this book provides a compilation of
naval slang throughout the world, from terms relating to ship-handling
and seamanship through to food and drink, discipline and insults. The
text is further enhanced with original black line drawings that
illustrate certain technical terms, such as ''splice the mainbrace''.
