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“Over the Barrel” Punishment aboard a ship often involved flogging, and the condemned sailor was frequently tied over the barrel of a deck cannon, to a grating, or to the mast. The phrase now describes a situation where someone is at a disadvantage or entirely at another’s mercy. Written by Lindsey

“Mainstay” In the rigging of any sailing yacht but particularly the tall ships of old, the mainstay was a vital rope running from the maintop to the foot of the foremast, providing essential support to the mast and the ship’s structure. Without it, the vessel’s stability was compromised. Today, “mainstay” describes something or someone that … Read more

“Hard Up” This expression has its roots in “hard over,” a term used to describe turning the ship’s helm as far as it could go. Sailors extended the phrase to “hard up in a clinch and no knife to cut the seizing,” a grim description of being in a bind with no way out. Today, … Read more

“Footloose” The bottom edge of a sail is called the “foot.” If it’s not securely fastened, it flaps freely in the wind, hence the term “footloose.” This nautical phrase has evolved to signify freedom or a lack of constraints. Written by Lindsey

“First Rate” This term for excellence originated from the 16th-century British Navy, where ships were classified by the number of heavy guns they carried. The largest, with 100 or more guns, were deemed First Rate and served as the backbone of the fleet. Smaller ships, like frigates, were ranked from second to sixth rates. Over … Read more

“Nippers” A short length of rope was used to bind an anchor cable to a messenger line for hauling the main anchor cable which was too thick for the capstan, so the messenger line was used to drag the cable along. The process was called “nipping,” and required small agile boys to hang over the … Read more

“Dead Reckoning” Still a vital navigation method for sailors today, dead reckoning relies on estimating a ship’s position based on previous positions, speed, and direction. Before modern technology, sailors used this technique to chart their course, adjusting for wind and current. Though less common now, the phrase remains tied to calculated risk and estimation. Written … Read more

“Chock-a-Block” Used to describe something crammed to capacity, this term comes from the rigging of sailing ships. When two blocks of tackle were pulled so tightly together that they could not be tightened further, they were said to be “chock-a-block.” The phrase is still used to describe anything that’s filled to the brim or overloaded. … Read more

“Total Balls up” A vessel at anchor less than 50mts in length would display one black ball from a prominent position by day or a white all round white at night. This shows other vessels that they should keep clear. Now I come to the ‘Balls Up’. A vessel not under command, that’s to say, … Read more

“Bottoms Up” A cheerful toast today, this phrase has darker origins. During an era when unsuspecting men were tricked into naval service, recruiters would slip a coin into the bottom of a beer glass. If the drinker accepted the beer-and the coin-they were deemed to have “accepted payment” and were forcibly pressed into the Royal … Read more