Sailor Mouth Saturday: Dredge

Ahoy Brethren and happy Saturday! I know what your thinking. Pauline, you say, one eyebrow cocked, that picture isn't of a dredge and its a bit spooky. You're right on both counts (of course you are; all my readers are smarter than average). Come along for this short cruise and all will be revealed.

When we think of a dredge or dredger these days we are thinking of a dredging machine with an engine and buckets. Back in the day, though, a dredge was a different thing entirely. The apparatus was a triangle framed iron scrapper with a bottom of hide and a topping of net. More like what we would now call a trawl, a dredge was dragged along behind a ship's boat to see what was on the ocean floor, collect specimens for scientific research or grab dinner. The boat utilized was known as a dredge boat.

And the reason for the ghost ship at the header? Well the best part - and the real purpose for talking about dredges today - is that sailors whispering about the ghost of a drown person would call it a dredgy. There's a little hint about what's coming up in the Halloween week ahead. Check back tomorrow for more details.