Nautical Nonsense

What became of Fisherman’s Friends? Not us the Shanty Singers, but the hot lozenges that were sold in a small paper envelope. Well we, the Shanty Singers have been on your doorstep since May 2024, with Ted Clarke, head Shantyman, attempting to keep us scurvy knaves in some sort of order. Stepping out of line, here are a few daft nautical terms and their meanings for you to mull over. Caution – not all of them are true!

Forecastle: (pronounced foxhole) – but without the foxes

Coxwain: as above, but without the apples or the cocks. Perhaps the foxes got at ‘em. Nobody saw a thing!

Larboard: Port side or left. Sorry, none left. I’ve finished the bottle!

Shantyman: One who lives in a tumbledown dwelling.

Fishing smack: A sort of ‘Pythonesque’ Morris dance.

Cat O’Nine Lives: After that, no tail to tell

Eight Bells: Midnight.

Jack Tar: Thank you, Jack.

Winch: Ow! That hurt

Deck: A pack of playing cards.

Pirates: A brassy, yellow mineral.

Dogwatch: A canine’s timepiece

Richard (Balderdash) Callum of the Eu3a Shanty Singers