the whitby seagull: Maritime words and phrases

Whitby is famous for?

Whitby (St Hilda's) Abbey, Dracula, Bram Stoker, Captain Cook, Whitby Goths, Whitby Regatta, Whitby Whaling, Fishing, St Mary's Church, Whitby Jet, Whitby Witches, Whitby Town, The Whitby Seagull, 199 Steps, Harbour, Whitby Piers, Shipping Trades, Alum Production, B&Bs, The East Cliff, Captain William Scoresby, Fisherman's Cottages, Whitby's Yards, Steps and cobbled streets, Fish and Chips, The Endeavour, Ghost Walks, Sea Food, Seaside, The West Cliff, Whitby Folk Festival, Caedmon, Frank Sutcliffe, Whitby Kippers, Lobster, Crabs and Scampi, Synod of A.D. 664, Australian 'First Fleet' supply vessels,

Do you know any other things Whitby is famous for? Let us know and we'll add it to the list, see here!

Discover Whitby's street names and their history here

Break the ice, Jury, Binge drinking, Incredible Hulk, Down the hatch, ...discover these and many more well known phrases from our maritime past here

Find out about the building styles and architecture found in the buildings of Whitby here.

Whitby in times gone by, ads from the past here

Old Whitby Ad

You might be amazed at just how many phrases we use in everyday language originate from the sailors and explorers of the seas and waters. In fact so many fundamental words are in common use, it makes you wonder if man was born on land or water?

Like with all "facts" it's always worthwhile doing your own research, some of these phrases are quite surprising, others like birth/berth are so obviously linked require no research at all just an inquisitive mind! It is interesting that people only use dictionaries mainly for difficult spellings and not for the meanings or the origin of words. It's often the most common of words that are the most interesting.

If you can add to this list of maritime words and phrases please email us and we can add them in.

A1 - A phrase used today to describe something as excellent, good or tip top. A1 originates from certificates given to ships to show how seaworthy they were. They were awarded by Lloyd's Register of Shipping and first printed in 1764.

ALL ABOVE BOARD - A term used to say when a business deal is legitimate. A ship built from timber was built with boards, everything above the boarding (the deck) was seen and visible. Otherwise it would be below board/unseen or hidden.

BARK - In whitby you can take a trip on the cook replica "Bark" Endeavour. Bark meaning small ship (1420 French "Barque"), from earlier latin barca (420 C.E)

BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES - A term used to describe an impending storm whether real or in terms of trouble ahead. Historically boats would have hatchways or holes in the decks, they would be covered at night or during a storm with canvas secured by thin strips of timber called hatches.

BEAM - A primary timber joist used to build a floor in a house. Also the width of a ship at it's widest point.

BINGE - Today used to describe heavy drinking, binge drinking. Binge or Soak was what a sailor did to get out the last remnants of a barrel of beer or cask of brandy. A sailor would add water to soak the remnants, hopefully getting some alcohol to drink, real desperation for a drink!

BINGO - A game based on a card game with prizes which had numbers marked off, played on ships. A line or a full house was played for. Here is the list of associated words and phrases used: No1 Kelly's Eye, No 6 Spot Below, No 9 Doctors Joy, No 11 Legs Eleven, No 13 Lucky for Some, No 17 Old Ireland, No 20 One Score, No 21 Bang Bang Bang, No 22 PC Parker, No 45 Half Way, No 59 The Brighton Line, No 62 To Waterloo, No 66 Clicketty-Click, No 69 Whichever way you look at it, No 89 All but Maltese Goat, No 90 Top of the House.

BIRTH - A word used to describe when a baby is born, and after a woman's "waters break". Spelt Berth, this explains the connection to the the sea and water. A Berth is given to a ship when docked in water, and also to describe how many people a boat sleeps, e.g a 4 berth boat. We also give a ship a "wide berth" and boats are "born" or launched on water. This also explains why for thousands of years boats (as with children), are given personal names. By giving a name to a boat, it brings it alive, and can become part of the family. Boat berths have long been celebrated in ceremonies, on the launching/birth of the boat.

BIRTH CANAL - The passage a foetus passes, spelt berth, the canal is the passage of water a boat uses, or is berthed in when unloading goods or passengers.

BLACK LIST - A list said to have the names of people denied access to a job, a promotion, privileges because of their actions or beliefs. On a ship, the black list was a list of the sailors due punishment, usually flogging.

BOARD - A term used when people get on an aircraft, a maritime term to get on a boat. Boardroom, board of directors, etc?

BORDER - The perimeter of a piece of land, country or district in the "ownership" of another, spelt boarder (someone who boards a ship), who crosses over the perimeter onto the ship, ones private property.

BOOBY PRIZE - The prize given to the loser of a quiz or competition. The word booby refers to a type of bird, considered by sailors as stupid. The bird would land on a ships deck, a sailor would be able to catch, kill and eat it with ease. So the phrase booby prize refers to the prize for stupidity.

BOOTLEG - Something counterfeit, dodgy, copied, like a cd or designer t-shirt. A bootlegger was a sailor who would try to bring illegal alcohol to shore by hiding it in his boot leg.

BREAK THE ICE - A very popular phrase used today to describe when someone makes the first move, or starts a conversation. An ice breaker was a special ship with reinforced bow used to cut and break through the ice to allow ships to sail in safety.

next page....