SHIP
ADJECTIVES
► DEAD-EYES UNDER of a ship: listing heavily → M19 nautical sl.
► LABOURSOME of a ship: subject to pitch and roll violently in a heavy sea → 1691
► LOGGED of a ship: on her beam-ends → L19 Brit. nautical sl.
► LUSTY of a ship: sailing well → 1660 obs.
► MUABLE of a ship: unsteady → a1393 obs.
► NAVAL of the nature of a ship → 1646 obs.
► NAVIGAL navigable; affording passage for ships or boats → c1470 obs.
► NAVIGEROUS that will bear a vessel or ship → 1656 obs.
► RACE of ships: lying lie in the water → 1622 obs.
► SICK of a ship: in quarantine on suspicion of infectious disease → 20C nautical colloq.
► WALT of a ship: unsteady, crank → 1539 obs.
► CRANK of a boat or ship: liable to tip or capsize; unsteady → 1702 Amer. dial.
ADVERBS
► BY NAVY by ship → c1400 obs.
NOUNS
► ABORDAGE an attack upon a ship by boarding it → c1550 obs.
► AFORESHIP the front part of a ship → 1495 obs.
► ‘ALFPENNY DIP a ship → M19 rhyming sl.
► ANDREW MILLAR’S LUGGER a ship, esp. of war; a king’s ship or vessel → 1819 naval sl. obs.
► ANDREW MILLER a warship → 1849 US Navy sl., now hist
► ARSE OF THE SHIP, THE the stern → M19 Royal Navy usage
► BASTIMENT a ship, a vessel → 1740 obs.
► BATHTUB a small ship → 1975 US sl. (Bk.)
► BATTLEWAGON – a battleship → 1938 US sl.
► BEAM a ship, a bark; perhaps, orig. one made from a hollowed trunk → c1000 poetic usage, obs.
► BEAN RAG a red pennant flown from a ship to indicate that only a minimum crew is on duty because it is mealtime → 1975 US Navy usage (Bk.)
► BLACK GANG all the members of a ship’s engineering department → US Civil War usage
► BLACK SHEEP an unseaworthy ship → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► BODOM a ship → 1911 Sc. (Bk.)
► BOILING WATER a boat’s wake → 1965 Amer. dial.
► BONE IN THE MOUTH the white water that splashes up around the bow of a fast-moving ship → 1945 Amer. dial. nautical usage
► BONE IN THE TEETH the white water that splashes up around the bow of a fast-moving ship → 1919 Amer. dial.
► BOX a ship, esp. if unseaworthy → 1851 Amer. nautical sl.
► BOYS’ TOWN the junior officers’ quarters on shipboard → 1979-88 Amer. sl.
► BRISTOWMAN a ship from Bristol, England → 1685 US
► CABBOUZE ► CABOOSE ► CABOUSE ► CARPOUSE a cook’s galley on a vessel → 1747 Amer. dial.
► CALLABOOS a cook’s galley on a vessel → 1805 Amer. dial.
► CAMBOOSE a cook’s galley on a vessel → 1848 Amer. dial.
► CANOE a ship; used derisively → 1859 US nautical sl.
► CARINE the keel or bottom of a ship → 1656 obs.
► CAST-IRON BATHTUB a battleship → World War II Amer. sl.
► CASTLE a large ship, esp. a ship of war → 1642
► CATASTRUM the deck of a ship → 1623 obs.
► CATTLE BOAT a troop transport ship → 1944 US military sl.
► CHUMMY-SHIP a ship with which another exchanges parties and games, usually a ship’s neighbour in harbour → 1898 colloq
► COD-HAULER a ship, or a man, from Newfoundland → M19 nautical sl.
► COFFIN an unseaworthy ship → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► COFFIN BRIG an unseaworthy ship → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► COUNTER the curved part of the stern of a ship → 1626 nautical usage
► DADDY ‘a lovely ship’ → 20C trawlermen’s usage
► DAGO a South American or Spanish ship → 1900s sl., derogatory
► DIVING BELL a ship which soaks easily and plunges badly → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► DOCK a sheltered area, as a cove, where ships anchor → 1648 US
► DRY DOCK a ship’s hospital or jail → World War II Amer. sl.
► FAIRLOCK a ship → 1900 Sc. (Bk.)
► FAN a ship’s propeller → c1918 Royal Navy usage
► FANAL a ship’s lantern → 1632 obs. exc. arch.
► FLASH VESSEL a gaudy looking but undisciplined ship → 1893 sl. (Bk.)
► FLOATING COFFIN an unsafe ship → World War II Amer. sl.
► FLOATING PALACE a large and comfortable ship → World War II Amer. sl.
► FURNITURE implements, tools, utensils; rigging, stores, and tackle of a ship → 1577
► GEDUNK ice-cream, sweets, potato crisps and other junk food; the ship store where junk food can be bought → 1927 US Navy sl.
► GUBERNACLE a rudder of a boat or ship → 1425 obs.
► GUTBUCKET an old or unseaworthy vessel → 1989 US Navy sl.
► GYP JOINT a ship’s store → 1942 Amer. navy sl.
► HABILIMENTS fittings, apparatus, furniture, gear, outfit, rigging, as of a ship → 1483 obs.
► HACK an old, slow, or dilapidated motor vehicle, aircraft, or boat or ship → 1916 Amer. sl.
► HEAD the toilet on a ship → 19C colloq.
► HEAD-PIECE the figurehead of a ship → 1807-8
► HELL BOX a galley stove → 1929 Amer. nautical sl.
► HOOKER a sailing vessel; a ship → 1821 sl.
► HOWE the hold of a ship → 1513 obs.
► IRON MIKE the automatic steering device of a ship → 1926 sl.
► KEEL a ship, a vessel → a1547 poetic usage
► KERF the furrow made by a ship’s keel → c1422 obs.
► LAME DUCK a severely damaged or defenseless ship or aircraft → 1876 US
► LASTAGE the ballast of a ship → c1440 obs.
► LEVIATHAN a ship of huge size → a1801
► MACHINE a ship or other vessel → 1637 obs.
► MADHOUSE a poorly run ship on which sailors are overworked or harshly disciplined → 1905 Amer. nautical sl.
► MAGAZINE a ship laden with stores, a victualling ship → 1624 obs.
► MAMMY CHAIR a slinglike device for raising or lowering passengers to and from ships anchored away from the shore in a heavy swell → 1900 nautical sl.
► MASK the mast of a ship → 1905 Eng. dial. (Bk.)
► MONKEY ISLAND the uppermost tier of a big ship’s bridge → L19 nautical sl.
► MONKEY-POOP the half deck of a flush decked ship → L19 nautical coll.
► NAUSCOPY the art of discovering the approach of ships or the neighbourhood of land at a considerable distance → 1797 rare
► NAVEY ships, shipping → c1350 obs.
► NAVIN shipping, fleet, navy → 1375 Sc. obs.
► NAVIRE ship; shipping → 1442 obs.
► NAVY 1. ships or shipping → c1330 obs.
2. a single ship → a1400-50 obs.
► OCEAN GREYHOUND a swift ocean steamer → 1891
► OCEAN-PALACE a sumptuously fitted and furnished ocean passenger-steamer → 1900
► OIL-BURNER any old or dilapidated vehicle, esp. a car or ship → 20C sl.
► OLD LADY a ship; used affectionately → 1841 US nautical sl.
► OLD WAGON an old ship → 1942 Amer. sl. (Bk.)
► ONERARY a ship of burden, transport → 1728
► PARISH RIG a badly-rigged ship; hence, an ill-dressed man → L19 sl., orig. nautical usage
► PIE WAGON a ship’s prison → World War I Amer. sl.
► RACK a wrecked ship → a1658 obs.
► RAG-WAGON a sailing ship, steam or turbine → c1910 sl.
► RIGGAGE the ropes, chains, wires, and fittings used to support and operate a vessel’s masts, sails, booms, etc. → 1627 nautical usage, obs.
► ROGUE a pirate ship → 1689 US
► RUST BUCKET an old and rusty ship → 1944 colloq.
► SACK SHIP a big ship used to carry supplies from Europe to the East Coast fisheries → 1965 Can.
► SALLEE ROVER a Moorish pirate ship → 1686 obs.
► SALLEE-MAN a Moorish pirate ship → 1637 obs.
► SARDINE-TIN a clumsy steamer → L19 nautical sl.
► SHAVING MILL a privateer → 1781 US
► SHELL the skeleton or carcass of a building or a ship → 1705
► SMOKE-BOAT a steamship → 1867 nautical sl.
► SMOKE-HEAD a funnel → 1942 nautical usage
► SMOKER a steamer → 1825 colloq., obs.
► STICK the mast of a ship or boat → 1802 US sl.
► TAIL the stern of a ship or boat → 1553 obs.
► TAIL-CASTLE the poop of a ship → 1585 obs.
► THURROCK the bilge of a ship → 1050 obs.
► TIMBER a ship → 20C
► TIMON the rudder of a ship → 1506 obs.
► TRICK a turn at the helm of a ship; a spell; a watch → US Civil War usage
► WAFTAGE conveyance across water by ship or boat → 1590
► WAGON a ship → 1913 Amer. navy sl. (Bk.)
► WAR-MAN a man-of-war, a warship → 1546 Sc. obs.
► WINGED WAIN a ship → 1598 obs.
► WORKHOUSE a hard, ill-found ship → 20C nautical usage
► WRACK a wrecked ship or other vessel; a vessel ruined or crippled by wreck → 1386
NOUNS – PERSON
► AFTERBIRD a ship’s officer ..1884 US nautical sl.
► ASHCAT a member of a steamship’s engine room gang; a stoker → 1899 US nautical sl.
► BARRATOR a ship’s master who commits ‘barratry’ → 1847
► BEACH-RANGERS men hanging about sea-ports, who have been turned out of vessels for bad conduct → 1867 nautical usage (Bk.)
► BLOKE, THE the captain of a ship → 1914 Brit. naval sl.
► CABIN BOY a boy whose duty is to wait on the officers and passengers in the cabin of a ship → 1726
► CANARY a bosun’s mate → 1821 nautical sl.
► CANTEEN MERCHANT one who serves in the ship’s canteen → 20C sl.
► CHIEF the chief engineer, or lieutenant-commander in a ship → 1895 sl.
► CHIPS a ship’s carpenter; usually used as a nickname → 1805 nautical sl.
► CRIMP an unscrupulous recruiter for ships’ companies → 1758 US
► DAVY-MAN the member of a crew of a ship captured by a privateer who was left on board in order to swear an ‘affidavit’ as to her nationality → 19C naval colloq.
► DOCTOR a ship’s cook; a cook in a camp → 1821 sl.
► DRIVER a captain notorious for crowding-on all possible sail → M19 nautical
► DUCK-FUCKER the man in charge of poultry aboard ship → L18 Brit. nautical sl.
► GIG one of the crew of a ship’s gig (a light, narrow, clinker-built ship’s boat, adapted either for rowing or sailing) → 1833
► GIGSMAN one of the crew of a ship’s gig (a light, narrow, clinker-built ship’s boat, adapted either for rowing or sailing) → 1833
► GRUMMET a ship’s boy; a cabin-boy → 1576 obs.
► IDLER one aboard a ship-of-war who, from being liable to constant day duty, is not required to keep the night-watch → 1794 nautical
► JACK DUSTY a ship’s steward’s assistant → c1931 nautical sl.
► JACK-IN-THE-DUST a ship’s steward’s mate or assistant → 1896 nautical sl. (Bk.)
► JACK-OF-THE-DUST a man on board a U.S. man-of-war appointed to assist the paymaster’s yeoman in serving out provisions and other stores → 1901 (Bk.)
► JEMMY DUCKS the ship’s poulterer → 1880 nautical sl.
► LIVE LUMBER soldiers or passengers on board ship → c1780 Brit. nautical sl.
► LONGSHORE OWNER a ship-owner that sent ill-found ships to sea → c1850 Brit. nautical sl.
► MAN-EATER a particularly tough officer → L19 Brit. sailing ships’ usage
► MARSHAL an official on board ship who superintends the carrying out of punishments → 1627 nautical usage obs.
► MASTER KNOB, THE the ship’s captain → 19C Brit. sl.
► MR. CHIPS a ship’s carpenter; usually used as a nickname → 1805 nautical sl.
► OIL AND WATER KING aboard ship: the engineer controlling fresh water distillation → 1986 US sl.
► OLD MAN orig. a commanding officer or ship’s captain; hence, one’s employer or superior → 1830 sl.
► OWNER, THE the captain of a ship, and also of an aircraft → 1903 sl.
► PADRONE the master of a trading vessel in the Mediterranean → 1804
► PALINURE a pilot (of a ship) → 1631 obs.
► PALINURUS a pilot of a ship → 1567 obs.
► POOP-ORNAMENT a ship’s apprentice → 1902 nautical sl.
► PUG a ship’s boy → L16 colloq.
► PUTTY a ship’s painter → 1946 naval sl.
► RAG-DRAGGER the captain of a sailing ship → 20C nautical sl.
► SIN BOSUN, THE the ship’s chaplain → c1925 Royal Navy usage
► TIMONEER a helmsman, a steersman → 1762-9
► YOUNG MAN a junior member of a ship’s crew → 1612 nautical colloq. obs.
► YOUNGSTER a boy or junior seaman on board ship; also, a junior officer in the army or navy; later also, in the US Navy: a midshipman in the second year of training to become an ensign → 1608
► YOUNKER a boy or junior seaman on board ship → c1595 obs.
NOUNS – PERSON – OTHER
► CABIN-CRACKER a thief breaking into a ship’s cabins → 1887 nautical sl.
PHRASES
► BONE IN THE MOUTH, A water foaming before a ship’s bows → arch., nautical usage
► CHEWING HER OAKUM of a wooden ship: beginning to leak, the caulking being bad → M19 nautical sl.
► FEEDS LIKE A HOTEL said of a ship with a sumptuous bill of fare → World War II Amer. sl.
VERBS
► CARRY A BONE IN THE TEETH to cut through the water making waves of foam about the bow → World War II Amer. sl.
► HOLD A GOOD WIND of a ship: to have good weatherly qualities → M19 nautical colloq.
► LOWER THE FLAG to relinquish command, esp. of a ship
► MANURE to manoeuvre a ship → 1569 obs.
► PILE UP to run a ship ashore → L19 nautical coll.
► SHANGHAI to force a person, esp. by underhand or unscrupulous means, to join a ship which is lacking a full crew → 1871 nautical sl., orig. US
► SIGN THE COAL WARRANTS to have a parting drink on board a ship ready to sail → M19 nautical usage
► STRIKE THE FLAG to relinquish command, esp. of a ship
► TWIVE of a ship at anchor: to swing up or down with the tide → 1576 nautical usage, obs.
► WAG of a boat or ship: to rock → 1377
► WALK of a vehicle, a ship, a stream: to go very slowly → 1827
► WALTER of a ship: to roll or be tossed on the waves → a1300 obs.
Lexicophilia 