HOW THE NAVY TALKS (1942)
Plank owner Sailor who stays on one ship.
White rat A man who "rats" on his shipmates to officers.
4.0 mark A perfect mark, as in examinations.
Sound off Give your name, rate and horsepower.
Light the smoking lamp In old Navy a lamp was lit when smoking was allowed; now they pass the word over an announcing system.
Paid off Discharged.
Flake out To lie down.
Out of bounds Forbidden.
To foul up the detail To make a mistake.
A mustang A full commissioned officer who rose from the ranks by merit.
To caulk off To sleep.
Chow Food.
Bellyrobber The ship's cook.
Scuttlebutt Navy drinking fountain; gossip.
Greaseball Mess cook.
Sea lawyer Sailor who gives unwanted advice.
Hashmarks Diagonal stripes worn on sleeves. One for each four years.
Ship over Re-enlist.
Java, jamoke, mud Coffee.
Rubber sock, boot A new recruit.
Kickout Dishonorable or bad conduct discharge.
Brig The ship's jail.
Skipper, Old Man, His nibs The Captain.
Doc. Any pharmacist's mate.
Insect A boot Ensign.
O.O.D. The Officer-of-the-Deck.
Bucket of blood racetrack A low class dance-hall.
Holy Joe, sympathy issuer The Chaplain.
Five for seven man Navy loan shark.
Sailor's bible A bluejacket's manual.
Cutter A long, fast boat, used for racing.
Tin can A destroyer.
Pig boat A submarine.
Mosquito boat A very fast torpedo boat.
Ham 'n eggs boat A refrigerator ship.
Airdales Navy aviators.
Lower the boom To knock someone down.
Hack driver Chief Petty Officer.
Jack-o-the-dust The commissary steward.
Gyp joint The ship's service store.
Slumgullion Stew.
Money-bags The paymaster.
Lucky bag Where lost clothing is kept.
Make a speed run Have a gay time ashore.
Tin fish A torpedo.
W.P.A, men Navy reserves.
Shove off Scram, beat it.
Ash can A depth charge.
Navy Chest A protruding stomach.
Show a leg Get out of your bunk.
Take in the slack Take it easy.
Shipshape Neat.
Get under way Get going.
Blow a fuse Get angry.
Irish pennant A loose end.
Monkey drill Calisthenics.
4 on and 4 off Standing watch and watch.
On the mat Called up for punishment.
Go to the mast Before the Commanding officer for trial.
--1--
On the report To be reported for an offense.
Busted Reduced in rank.
Surveyed Discharged for medical reasons.
Mate Your pal.
Go over the hill To run away, desert.
Civvie A civilian.
Skivvies Underwear.
Captain of the head Toilet room cleaner.
Sugar report A letter from the girl friend.
Bellbottoms Widely flared non-reg pantaloons.
Acey-deucey Navy game similar to backgammon.
Overleave To overstay shore time.
"48" Week-end liberty.
Foxtail A mustache.
Smoke-stacking Telling big windies.
To get your ears lowered Get a haircut.
Happy hour or smoker A card of fights, wrestling, and entertainment.
All-Navy A regulationabiding sailor.
Chinaman Sailor who works in the laundry.
Dungarees Working denims.
Racketeer Sailor who has a moneymaking sideline.
Marlinspike seamanship Knowing knots and splices.
Dogging the watch Splitting the watch in half, to make it rotate.
Stand by Take a shipmate's duty so he can go ashore.
Section leader Senior man in a section.
Billet Your bunk and locker number.
Ropeyarn Sunday In old Navy, this was a half day off to sew and perform personal tasks; now is a half-holiday.
Thirty-year bag Large canvas bag in which a man's clothing is packed.
Slick, shave, and shine Get cleaned up for liberty.
Goonie A married man.
Field day Day of general cleaning.
A salvo Broadside from all guns.
Coming on the range Approaching firing position.
Officer's Country That part of the ship, usually aft, where officers live.
Bugle Your nose.
A one-nighter Sailor who is suffering from a hangover.
Quarterdeck Part of the upper deck used for ceremonies.
Topside The weather deck.
Technician Sailor who thinks he is very good at his trade.
Lubber Inept sailor, or landsman.
Old salt An old sailor.
Cruising the town Seeing the sights.
Taking a bearing Ascertain your whereabouts.
Breakwater sailor Sailor on a ship which seldom goes to sea,
Homeguard Married sailor.
Sea gulls Girls who follow the fleet.
Sea-going One who gets plenty of time at sea.
Freedom chit, or liberty card A pass to go ashore,
"84" Naval prison.
Dummy run A false start.
To secure Make fast, or tie up.
Haul out To tie up to a boom.
Gangway ticket A man's discharge paper.
Ginmill Lowclass cabaret, or booze joint.
Collision mat Navy hot cakes.
P. I. man Sailor who is supposed to have political influence.
Shore patrol Sailors on duty to keep the peace among sailors ashore.
Landing force A large liberty party.
Graveyard watch The 12 to 4 at night.
Man-o-war's man An alert, up-to-the-minute sailor.
Muscle man One who pulls in a racing boat.
Politician Sailor with an easy job.
--2--