Its fairly common knowledge that many of the expressions we use today can be traced by nautical origins. For example: Bottom of the Barrel - from the rancid and maggot infested remains at the bottom of a barrel of salt pork. Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey - not what you think- refers to a rack, known as a Monkey, that held cannon balls on the deck of a warship, which when cold enough, would contract and lose its cargo. Let the cat out of the bag - refers a seaman committing an offense that might end in being tied to the mast and flogged with a cat-o-ninetails, which was stored in a bag. One of favorite is Therell be the devil to pay - because its modern usage is all wrong. The seam between the hull and deck of a sailing ship was known as the devil. During a voyage, this seam would need to be re-sealed, which was done by paying in resin and oakum fiber mix. A dreaded and dangerous task done from a bosun chair hanging out over an often raging sea. And used as a punishment. And the list goes on and on, these being just a few off the top of my head. Surfing around today I found a new one I was completely unaware of, so too funny not to share. Enjoy. S.H.I.T. In the 16th century, most everything was transported by ship and it was also before the invention of commercial fertilizer, so large shipments of manure were common. It was shipped dry, because it weighed less; but once water hit it, fermentation began which produced methane gas as a by-product. The manure was stored in bundles below deck and once wet with sea water, methane began to build up. The first time someone came below at night with a lantern.... BOOOOM! Several ships were destroyed in this manner before it was determined just what had happened. Afterwards, the bundles of manure were stamped with the term Ship High In Transit which directed the crew to stow it in the upper decks so that any water that came into the hold would not reach this volatile cargo and produce the explosive gas. Thus evolved the term S.H.I.T. (Ship High In Transit) which has come down through the centuries and is still in use today. You probably did not know the true history of this word.
Posted on: Sun, 09 Mar 2014 06:07:08 +0000
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