Origin of Sea Terms.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXIII, Issue 7367, 15 November 1898, Page 4

Origin of Sea Terms.

SOME INTERESTING EXAMPLES. In the early days of English naval organisation vessels of war had double crews, a military one for fighting purposes and another of marines for navigation duties. In consequence, a large number of English sea terms have a military origin.

In early times the rank of admiral was unknown, and the chief officer of a squadron was called a constable of justice. The term admiral as now used is derived from the Arabic " amir " or " emir," a commander, as in " Amir-al-Bahr," commander of the seal.

The title captain is not a naval but a military one. Originally the real captain of a ship was a "master." A military officer was placed on board, though he knew nothing of nautical matters. Gradually his importance increased, while that of the master diminshed proportionately, till at the present day office is becoming obsolete. Cbmmodore comes from the Spanish *' comendador."

The title of lieutenant is borrowed from the French, and is meant as a placeholder, or one who took the place of the captain when absent. In former days there were no cadets, bat volunteers, but with the gradual advance of politeness the term cadet was appropriated from the French. Boatswain is derived from the Saxon swein " —a servant. .The term quartermaster, as used in both the army and navy, appears to be confusing and anomalous. In the army it is the title of a commissioned officer who performs important and responsible duties. In the navy he is simply a warrant officer, directing subordinate duties. In old ships and in olden times his position was a more important one, so much so that he was considered to be the fourth part of th 3 master —hence the term quartermaster. The ship's cook was once a great man, and there are instance on record of his being promoted for efficient preparations of food. The ship's steward was originally the caterer.

The terms larboard and starboard come from the Italian " questa borda" and 44 quella borda," which, by rapid delivery, became starboard and larboard, but owiug to the strong similarity of sound they were changed into starboard and port (Latin porto, to carry), the use of the terms in the original form having been the cause of many accidents. Gangway has been handed down from the days of the ancient galley of the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and Romans, it having been a board which ran along the whole length, serving as a passage for the rowers to and from their seats. It was also used as a resting place for the mast and sail when not in use.

The cockpit, in the lowest part of the vessel below water, used during an action for the treatment of the wounded, is derived from the old days of the English sport of cock fighting, but this has been modernised, and is now known as .the 44 flats " —why, no one can explain. Lubber is from the Dutch, meaning a lazy, cowardly fellow. Anchor comes from the Latin 44 anchora" or 44 ancora," which np to 600 B.C. consisted simply of a large stone with a hole through it. The peculiarity of so many portions of a ship's rigging bearing names derived from the trappings of a horse can only be accounted for from the fact that the early warships were manned by soldiers as well as sailors, the natural consequences being that they, the soldiers, adapted some of their terms to meet their fancy; Among the various ropes will be found bridles, whips, bits, stirrups, and the like.