Not Enough Room to Swing a Cat

Naval slang and its everyday usage

Not Enough Room to Swing a Cat cover

Description

This book explores the nautical history of some of our most common expressions in an entertaining and informative volume.

As the crow flies'', ''chunder'', ''cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey'', ''three sheets to the wind'' - many terms like these are used in everyday English language conversation and writing. But how many landlubbers know that they derive from naval slang or know what the phrase originally referred to?

The navy has helped to shape modern society and is famous for its traditions, quirks and nuances. It is distinctly different to wider society and nowhere is this more evident than in language. The naval community once had its own language, incomprehensible to anyone who was not a sailor, which described and explained his unique world. But on shore leave these men introduced their language to the populations of bustling ports and harbours and the usage slowly spread inland.

Today through the mediums of film, television and music, naval slang has been brought to the wider public and has become fully integrated into the English language to point where many phrases are used by people who have no concept of their meaning. Presenting terminology thematically, this book provides a compilation of naval slang throughout the world, from terms relating to ship-handling and seamanship through to food and drink, discipline and insults.

The text is further enhanced with original black line drawings that illustrate certain technical terms, such as ''splice the mainbrace''.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction

Chapter 1 All Shipshape and Bristol Fashion
Chapter 2 Taken Aback
Chapter 3 The Oggin
Chapter 4 Bigwigs and Matelots
Chapter 5 The Cat
Chapter 6 Munjy
Chapter 7 Grog
Chapter 8 Action Stations!
Chapter 9 Poking Charlie
Chapter 10 Flotsam and Jetsam

Appendix: A Run Ashore: Images of the sailor in popular culture
Further Reading
Index

Product details

Published Jan 25 2018
Format Ebook (Epub & Mobi)
Edition 1st
Extent 176
ISBN 9781472834195
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Series General Military
Short code GNM
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Martin Robson

Dr Martin Robson is a lecturer in defence studies…

Resources

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