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.

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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 regulation—abiding sailor.

Chinaman — Sailor who works in the laundry.

Dungarees — Working denims.

Racketeer — Sailor who has a money—making 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.

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