Some expressions for non-alcoholic beverages at sea:Bombay oyster (or elephant rouser): castor oil in a glass of milk as a laxative
Bug juice: hot cocoa
Cow, cow juice: milk
Goffa: anything not alcoholic
Gunfire: morning tea
Mud, java, jamoke or joe: coffee
Switchel: molasses, vinegar and water as a tonic
Thickers: strong tea or coffee
Tonsil varnish: bad tea or coffee
Water bewitched: watered down tea or coffee
Above, Stephen and Jack are enjoying Officer's Privilege: the good wine brought aboard at an officer's own expense.
On the midwatch in Combat Information Center, out in the middle of the Indian Ocean, we were reduced to raiding the galley for coffee supplies as someone had not replenished our CIC coffee mess. No sugar to be had, one enterprising sailor made the coffee with salt. Now, being a strong flavor, one might think salted coffee work work out just fine.... it doesn't. There's a reason why no one salts coffee. Hideous.
ReplyDeleteBug juice. In today's Navy, the colored, sugared water which looks like the blue reservoir on your car, with which you spray down the windshield whilst using wipers to scrape of bug residue, colloquially known as bug juice [no matter what color]. First tour, walking about the deck, I came across one of my sailors scrubbing at a brass fire hose fitting with a stiff-bristled brush and a paste of some sort. Bug juice. Use the non-sugared variety. Mix it up thick. almost to a paste. Let it sit in the sun for a while to allow the citric acid to kick in. Cleans the green oxidation nicely off brass fittings.
Ahoy, Pauline! Some of those are pretty funny. I particularly like "jamoke" for reasons you already know.
ReplyDeleteAlmost time for me to enjoy some Officer's Privilege, Pirate Queen.
By the way, coincidental to our viewing of "Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World" again last night, The Dear Surpise website has posted an interview with Gordon Laco, the Historical Consultant on the film at:
http://www.thedearsurprise.com/?p=1989
Ahoy Charles and Timmy!
ReplyDeleteCharles: thank you so much for the updated info! So worth the while and - of course now that it is all behind you - hilarious. You need to come over here and do a guest post on "current coloquialisms in the Navy". Make a great Sailor Mouth Saturday!
Timmy: I saw that and I need to leave a comment for TDK because I really enjoyed that interview. Huzzah! Surprise! Huzzah! Lucky Jack!
Well, that is a good idea - current colloquialisms in the US Navy. Gotta put my brain to it [and write mesel' a note!]
ReplyDelete