Photo: The USNS Tippecanoe (TAO 199) (center) conducts an underway replenishment with the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer Haruna (DD 141) (left) and the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) on Oct. 8, 1998. Photo credit: Chief Petty Officer Mahlon K. Miller.
Trivia Questions (Answers @ end)
- Who said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”?
- In what movie (and who said it) did we hear: “Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m all for conversation, but maybe you could just shut up for a moment.”?
- In what song (and who sang it) did we hear the following?
Once upon a time you dressed so fine
Threw the bums a dime in your prime, didn’t you?
When I was a younger lad (many, MANY years ago), I always wanted to learn a foreign language. I believe it was Miss Warren in the seventh grade at Westwood Junior High School who, when I first walked into her Spanish class—only a few minutes late—said to me, “Bueno Dias, Senor Andre…”
At such a tender age, Miss Warren was… how shall I gracefully say this… the most beautiful teacher I’d had in my entire 12 years on this earth. I was gob smacked. I don’t know what she said, but all I remember was staring at her gorgeous blue eyes, highlighted by shoulder-length blonde hair… for six months.
I’m sure I learned something that year, but every now and then when someone speaks Spanish to me, I’ll politely respond, “Oui, Senorita” or “Gracias, Mademoiselle.”
Oh… my wife hates that – mixing two languages. But that’s about all I learned from junior high school Spanish and French.
There’s a great line in the Bruce Willis movie, The Fifth Element (1997), where Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis) states, “I only speak two languages, English and bad English.”
That may be true, but when I enlisted in the US Navy for four years, I was soon to learn a whole new language. In fact, the cover of my Navy memoir (Three Years, Eleven Months, and 29 Days—But Who’s Counting) has a disclaimer:
Warning: This book contains three languages: English, Navy, and military.
Some readers may find two of the languages offensive.
I thought I’d share a few of my favorite semi-clean Navy terms and phrases. For a more complete list, feel free to visit my website and download the Navy glossary. And just because I love all my military brothers, there are a few other “glossaries,” just for you.
https://www.azadkinsiii.com/resources.html
General Terms:
Boondoggle: A term used to describe any unorganized, inefficient evolution.
Bravo Zulu: A term used to describe a job well done.
Bremerloes: A term used to describe a female of husky build. It originated at Bremerton, Washington in the shipyards where they are rather common.
Butt Kit: Another term for an ash tray.
Chit: The name given to the document a sailor fills out to make various types of special requests (i.e. emergency leave, move off base to civilian housing, etc.).
My Wife Chit: A special request that uses the wife as the excuse or justification for needing to be absent.
Cracker Jacks: A slang term for the dress blue uniforms worn by sailors below the rank of E-7.
Ghost Turd: The sailor’s term for a dust bunny.
Gig line: A term used to describe the visual line formed by uniform zipper, belt buckle, and buttoned shirt seam.
Goat locker: A term used to describe a lounge or galley for the exclusive use of Chiefs.
Golden Dragon: A sailor who has crossed the Prime Meridian or the International Date Line into the Eastern Hemisphere.
Golden Shellback: A term used to describe a sailor who has crossed the equator at the 180th Meridian.
Ground-Pounder: A Navy term used to describe Marines, specifically those in the infantry.
Gundeck: A term used to jury-rig something; falsifying or misrepresenting records and reports.
Living the Dream: A sarcastic term used when someone is asked how they are, they reply with this which sounds upbeat and a positive term, and they are actually miserable. “How are you doing today Petty Officer Adkins?” “Living the dream, Captain.”
Marine candy bars: Urinal cakes.
Marine Shower: Changing clothes without bathing, usually just applying deodorant or cologne.
Mustang: An officer who came from the Enlisted ranks.
Non-skid: A rough epoxy coating used for grip on weather decks. Also, another term for toilet paper.
Nut to butt: A term used to describe standing in line, close quarters, body to body, each man’s chest pressed to the back of the man ahead, or “nut to butt.”
Operation GOLDENFLOW: Another term for a command-wide urinalysis test.
Polish a Turd: A term used to describe how to make the most of a bad situation.
Pucker Factor: A term used to describe the tension caused by high stress during a difficult or dangerous evolution.
Puddle Pirate: A derogatory term for members of the US Coast Guard.
Rack: Another term for a bed.
Scrambled Eggs: A term used to describe the gold embroidered decoration on a Commander’s/Captain’s cover. Admirals have Double Eggs. The similar silver clouds and lightning bolts addition to an Air Force Major’s hat is called “Farts and Darts.”
Skivvies: Another term for underwear.
Smoking Lamp: A term used to describe when smoking is permitted. “The smoking lamp is lit.”
Whiz Quiz: Another term for a “Piss Test” or urinalysis.
Yardbird: Another term for a shipyard worker.
Navy Acronyms:
A-Farts: A slang term for Armed Forces Radio & Television Service. I was a radio DJ aboard Kitty Hawk during the Westpac ’75 cruise.
CB (Construction Battalion): Also known as “Seabees.”
CF (pronounced Charlie Foxtrot): An acronym for “Cluster f**k.”
The COW: An acronym for the Commanding Officer’s Wife.
Dink: An acronym for married servicemembers with no children – “Dual Income No Kids.”
F.I.G.M.O.: An acronym for “F**k It, Got My Orders.” It refers to a sailor’s refusal of a long or tough assignment near the end of a duty rotation.
FNG: An acronym for “F**kin’ New Guy”—self-explanatory.
F.U.B.A.R.: An acronym for “F**ked up beyond all recognition.”
GAF: An acronym for “Give a F**k.” Often heard as, “I have a GAF attitude.”
HMFIC: Head Mother F**ker In Charge, Slang for the sailor who is in charge of an evolution.
ID10T: An acronym for “Idiot,” pronounced “Eye-Dee-Ten-Tango.” An inexpensive way to derive enjoyment from inexperienced personnel. “Recruit, go get me an ID10T form, and step on it!”
IYAOYAS: An unofficial acronym commonly found on the uniforms of airedales who specialize in ordnance handling. Read as “If you ain’t ordnance, you ain’t s**t.”
MARINE: acronym for “Marines Always Ride in Navy Equipment”…or “Muscles are Required Intelligence Not Essential”… or “My Ass Really Is Navy Equipment”, or “My Ass Rides In Navy Equipment.”
NAVY: acronym used by disgruntled sailors for “Never Again Volunteer Yourself.”
S.N.A.F.U.: An acronym for “Situation Normal All F**ked Up.”
SWAG: An acronym for “Scientific/Simple Wild Ass Guess.” Used commonly on Navy exams.
Sailor Terms:
A.J. Squared Away: A term used to describe a sailor who is always “squared away,” meaning always having a perfect shave, perfectly ironed uniform, spit-shined shoes, haircut with less than 1mm of hair, spotless uniform, etc.
Bent S**tcan: A term used to describe someone somewhat below Navy standards.
Boondockers: The medium cut combat boots issued in boot camp to new recruits.
Bun: A term used to describe a sexually active female sailor. See also “Hot Dog.”
Chest Candy: The ribbons, insignia, and awards worn on a uniform.
Crotch Crickets: Another term for pubic lice, aka, “crabs.”
Dixie Cup: The white visorless canvas hat sailors wear with their dress uniforms.
Double-digit Midget: Less than 100 days to discharge or transferring to another duty station.
Hot Dog: A term used to describe a sexually active male sailor. See also “Bun.”
No Load: Another term for a useless sailor, or one who does not pull his share of the load.
Short Timer: A term used to describe sailor with less than 90 days until discharge or transfer who has an attitude to match.
Short Timer’s Chain: A chain that hangs from the belt of a “short timer” for all to see, with one link representing a day, (signifying too short to care) and usually starts with 30 links. Verbal equivalent is “__ days and a wake-up.”
Single-digit midget: Sailor who has less than 10 days before getting out or transferring.
Skater: A term used to describe a sailor who gets away with doing no work.
Shipboard Terms:
Bilge Rat: A term used to describe someone who works in the engineering spaces.
Bluenose: A term used to describe an individual in the Navy who has crossed the Arctic Circle.
Coffin Locker: Another term for a personal storage area located underneath a sailor’s rack.
Davy Jones’ locker: A term used to describe the bottom of the ocean.
Hatch: Another term for a door.
Head: Another term for the bathroom.
Hot Racking: A term used to describe sharing racks. In the submarine service, there are usually more men than racks, so while one sailor is on duty, the other is in the shared rack.
King Neptune: Usually the senior “shellback” on the ship, this individual presides over the Royal Court and the initiation of Pollywogs during Crossing the Line ceremonies.
Knee-knockers: The bottom portion of a passageway opening through a bulkhead. The lower lip of the opening sits at shin height.
Love Boat: Term referring to a subtender comprised primarily of female sailors. Also, a nickname for CVN-69.
Mail Buoy: A fictitious buoy that mail for a ship is left on. Usually new sailors are given a mail buoy watch for the entertainment of the more seasoned sailors.
Navy Shower: While underway, fresh water must be manufactured from sea water. A common-sense way of saving it is to first wet down while taking a shower and then TURN OFF THE WATER. Lather up and wash. Finally, TURN ON THE WATER to rinse off.
Pollywog: A term for an individual who has not crossed the Equator, who must go through rituals that sometimes cross the line to be hazing to become a Shellback. This practice can be traced back hundreds of years and is conducted in many Navies across the globe.
Royal Baby : Usually the fattest “shellback” on the ship, this individual is part of the royal court and the initiation of pollywogs during Crossing the Line ceremonies. His belly is sometimes greased up, and unsuspecting Wogs may be forced to kiss it before completing their transformation from slimy wog to trusty shellback.
Scuttlebutt: Another term for a drinking fountain or rumor (originated from the rumors that would be spread on board ship while gathered about the water barrel).
Sea Legs: bodily adjustment to the motion of a ship indicated especially by ability to walk steadily and by freedom from seasickness.
Shellback: A term used to describe an individual who has crossed the Equator. See also “Pollywog.”
Shinbuster: Another term for a “knee-knocker.”
Snipes: A term used to describe sailors assigned to the Engineering rates, i.e. Machinists Mates, Boilermen, Enginemen, and Pipefitters.
Steel Beach Picnic: A term used to describe a celebration on the weather decks of a ship and usually involves near beer and barbecue.
Tin can: Another term for a Destroyer.
Aircraft Carrier terms:
Air Boss: Air Officer. A term used to describe the head of the Air Department. His assistant is the “Mini Boss.”
Airedale: A term used to describe a sailor who works on or around aircraft, whether shore duty or at sea.
Birdfarm: Another term for an aircraft carrier.
Bomb Farm: Areas on the ship where aviation ordnance men store their bombs.
Photographer unknown.
Flattop: Another term for an aircraft carrier. Also, the haircut worn by truly motivated sailors.
JP5: Jet fuel used on all navy ships and at all naval air stations.
Roof Rat: An Airedale that works on the fight deck of an aircraft carrier during fight operations.
Shooter: The Catapult Officer aboard an aircraft carrier.
Skittles: A term used to describe sailors who work on the flight deck of a carrier. So named due to the different colored jerseys they wear.
Trap: A fixed wing arrested landing on an aircraft carrier.
Vultures Row: The place where people can watch flight operations without being in the way, typically the O-7 to O-9 level on an aircraft carrier’s island.
Chow hall terms:
Barney Clark: A term used to describe a slider topped with a fried egg. Also known as a “One-Eyed Jack.”
Chow Hall: Another term for the dining room.
Death Pillows: Another term for Navy ravioli.
Death Pucks: Another term for a Navy hamburger patty.
Dynamited Chicken: Another term for Chicken a la King or Chicken Cacciatore.
Fighting gear: Another term for eating utensils.
Flight Deck Buzzard: Another term for chicken (food).
Galley: Another term for the crews’ mess, or dining area. A place where food is prepared for consumption.
Gedunk: Another term for candy, or a place that sells candy in a short form of Gedunk bar.
Gerbil: Cordon Bleu. So named because it looks like a deep-fried gerbil.
Hockey pucks: Another term for Swedish meatballs (also, trail markers, porcupines, road apples).
Horse Cock: A term used to describe a large log of baloney usually put out for lunch or mid rats.
Mess Decks: Chow Hall or Eating Establishment on board ship.
Mid-Rats: Short for MIDnight RATions. Leftover lunch and dinner plus PB and J.
Reefer: A term used to describe a refrigeration ship carrying frozen foods.
Roach Coach: A snack or lunch truck that stops by the pier.
Roast Beast: Another term for Roast Beef or any meat served aboard the ship that even the cooks who prepared it don’t know what it is.
Scullery: Another term for the washroom for eating implements such as knives, forks, trays, and cups.
S**t in a Seabag: Another term for stuffed green peppers.
S**t-on-a-shingle: A term used to describe the traditional Navy breakfast: creamed chipped beef on toast.
Sliders: Another term for hamburgers and cheeseburgers.
Tube steak: Another term for hot dogs. Also called “dangling sirloin”.
Wardroom: Another term for the Officer’s mess, or dining room.
There are plenty more “terms & phrases,” believe me. For more “elaborate” Navy & other military terms, visit my list of resources: https://www.azadkinsiii.com/resources.html
You can thank me later.
“Compliments,” feel free to email me. “Complaints,” feel free to “drop a chit to Davy Jones.”
Until we meet again,
Andy
Andy Adkins is a US Navy veteran (’73-77) and the author of several books (www.azadkinsiii.com), many of which are free downloads (PDF, eBook format). He is currently retired and lives in Gainesville, Florida with his wife and life-long soulmate, Becky.
Previous Blogs mentioned in the Post:
- #30—USS Kitty Hawk @ Bremerton Shipyards, Part 1
- #42—The Shipyards, Part 2
- #39—Good Morning to ya, Kitty Hawk!
- #83—Flight Deck Skittles
- #40—Midrats… and other Navy Chow
Answers
- Mark Twain.
- The Fifth Element (1997), Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis).
- Like a Rolling Stone (1965), Bob Dylan; written by Bob Dylan.
Here’s a couple more shipboard terms, primarily, food related;
“Doggy diner”, or “forward slop chute”, pertaining to the forward mess deck, where you could grab a quick “meal”, if you were working flight schedule. One of their specialties, was, what I called, a “Jack your Jaw sandwich”..a rough approximation, of a sub sandwich, except the bread used was so thick, that when the filling were included, you couldn’t stuff it in your mouth, without smashing it flat, or ripping out half of the inside of the bread…definitely requiring, washing it down, with “Bug juice”….
Have a good one, Andy….
Thanks, Ken. Those are good ones.