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Very strong winds have recently been described in the RN as, "blowing a hooligan." I have also heard this term from non-naval sources, as well.
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Also:
blowing a hoolie
howling
honking
blowing old boots
the list could go on!
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Re: sailors called taffs--this is reminding me of my
barrow-boy guess, but could it be because of the association with salt-water taffy?
And on such delightful ideas are erudite etymologies founded. But I have never heard toffee called taffy in UK. Any other east siders care to comment?
And on "start". The knotted rope was called a "starter".
Rod
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for "list"...as in "listing," taking on water in the process of sinking
I know "list" as "lean, lean over" which might or might not involve taking on water. Can anyone confirm Whitman's more specific meaning?
Rod
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But I have never heard toffee called taffy in UK.
Ah--I had assumed (yet again--sigh) that the nickname Taff
had been assigned to the Brits by the U.S.'ns, but
having just re-read the originating post, I see that it ain't necessarily so. [berating self again e]
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There is an old nursery rhyme:"Taffy was a Welchman....."
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Sea legs first: My take on this was always that sea legs referred more to the ability to walk steadily while on a rolling ship than on the inability to walk on steady land. My own experience in this matter was as follows:
My first time on the ship, a large and somewhat top heavy cruiser which rolled quite a bit in relatively calm seas, I had no problems walking steadily. When I first hit dry land after that first voyage I was a little wobbly. Subsequent transitions were totally uneventful.
I, too, had never heard that taking on water was necessary for listing. Sufficient, yes, necessary, no. Unbalanced cargo could cause the same condition.
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Yes, rodward, the literal meaning of "list" is "to lean to one side"...but I have only heard it used in nautical terms when referring to a sinking ship...listing to starboard, listing heavily at the bow, she took on water slowly causing a heavy list to port before she rolled over and went down, etc.
And, how 'bout MATE, MATES, and MATEY!?...How did our voices from Down Under miss this one?
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rkay wrote: >"Very strong winds have been described in the RN as "blowing a hooligan."<
Living here on the coast we, and commercial fisherman and seaman, always refer to an approaching gale or
nor'easter by saying "looks like we're in for a big blow", or, " it looks like there's a big blow comin' up." Or simply,
"There's a blow comin' up."
There has also been some bantering in the local press of late as to whether the time-honored nautical slang, "nor'easter" should be scuttled in deference to the more proper "northeaster." I vote the former.
And a "nor'easter" is also the name for the special foul- weather gear a commercial fisherman or seaman wears on the Mid-Atlantic and New England coasts of the US.
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"nor'easter" is also the name for the special foul- weather gear
and on the the other side of the pond this is known as a "sou'wester". At least that is certainly a foul weather hat (like Paddington Bear wears - I had one as a child) and I think refers also to the rest of the gear. I wouldn't know if the gears are similar. Presumably if a sou'wester buttons down the front, a nor'easter buttons down the back?
Rod
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"nor'easter" is also the name for the special foul- weather gear
and on the the other side of the pond this is known as a "sou'wester".
US'ns call the storm a nor'easter because the winds (not the storm) come out of the northeast. This is because the storms track up the coast and we, being on the western edge, get the first winds from the notheast.
Do the UK'ns call the storm as well as the storm gear a sou'wester? And if so, is it because you are on the eastern edge of the storm?
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