<p>**PAINTER (n) ** - A light line used to make fast a boat to a ship or a pier. </p>
<p>**PARTY (n) ** - A group of designated sailors, such as a “shore party,” meaning those going ashore; a “working party,” meaning those assigned a particular task, etc. </p>
<p>**PASSAGEWAY (n) ** - A hallway. Below the main deck, most passageways pass through hatches, incorporating watertight doors (WTD’s), which must be closed and dogged (i.e., sealed) in the event of imminent danger. </p>
<p>**PAYDAY (n) ** - That happy day, historically every two weeks, on which all hands receive their money. A common profane expression for it is: “The day the eagle ****s!”</p>
<p>**PEA COAT (n) ** - A short topcoat of heavy blue wool worn as part of the enlisted uniform. </p>
<p>**PETTY OFFICER (n) ** - A non-commissioned enlisted person with authority over others subordinate to him/her.</p>
<p>**PIER (n) ** - A structure usually of stone or wood, projecting into navigable waters, to which a vessel may be secured for loading or unloading.</p>
<p>**PILOT (n) ** - In harbor, a person with specialized knowledge of channels, currents, winds, and other hazards relevant to entering and leaving a dock. This is so demanding a job that, under US administration of the Panama Canal, some of the highest-paid jobs in the US government were those of the Panama canal pilots. In aviation, of course, a pilot is the person in command of an airplane. Naval aviators are a breed apart from ordinary mortals. They perform daily acts of boundless danger and daring, just flying on and off a carrier, and they do not hesitate to remind ordinary salt bound sailors of this fact. </p>
<p>**PLIMSOLL LINE (n) ** - A horizontal line within a circle located on the side of a seagoing freighter which indicates the maximum load (or minimum freeboard) considered safe by law. This level is higher (lesser permitted load) for a vessel in fresh water, because salt water is heavier. </p>
<p>**POGY BAIT (n) ** - An immature or inexperienced sailor.</p>
<p>**POINTS (n) ** - The ancient system of 32 equal divisions of the (360 degrees) compass, used to designate direction of an object seen from the ship. For instance, an object designated as lying “two points forward of the port beam” would be found 22.5 degrees in a clockwise direction from a perpendicular line leftward from the ship extending to the horizon. </p>
<p>**PORT (adv) ** - Standing on the centerline of a vessel, facing the bow, or forward, everything to the left of the ship’s centerline is to port. </p>
<p>**QUARTERMASTER (n) ** - The Naval rating which is charged with assisting the Navigator in keeping the ship’s position, maintaining the ship’s log, manning semaphore flags, etc. Abbreviated QM.</p>
<p>**RADAR (n) ** - Electronic device used to obtain bearing and range of an object , either on the surface or in the air, by measuring the echoing pulses from an electronic wave generator aboard ship. This equipment is the predecessor of the “radar range” (microwave oven) so popular in American kitchens, due to the ingenuity of US sailors, who soon discovered that a sandwich inserted in the path of these waves would soon be toasted brown. </p>
<p>**RAFT (n) ** - A simple float, most often without a power source, allowed to drift with the current or pulled by a powered craft. </p>
<p>**RANK (n) ** - Term denoting the grade or relative authority of commissioned officers of the Navy. The term rating is used to denote relative authority of non-commissioned officers.</p>
<p>**RATE (n) ** - The relative authority or grade held by an enlisted person within a rating, as, boatswain’ mate third class, which is promotable to a boatswain’s mate second class, which is promotable to a boatswain’s mate first class, which is promotable to a boatswain’s mate, chief, etc. </p>
<p>**RATING (n) ** - An occupational grouping for enlisted personnel. Such groups include boatswains, quartermasters, gunner’s mates, electronics technicians, firemen , yeomen, etc. Each sailor in such a rating holds a rate indicating his/her relative authority or grade. </p>
<p>**REFUELING AT SEA (v) ** - An operation in which two vessels, one a tanker carrying diesel oil and/or aviation jet fuel, first approach each other to within 50 yards, proceed at exactly the same course and speed through the water, and pump fuel through long rubber hoses from the tanker to the ship low on fuel. This is an intrinsically dangerous operation, requiring the most expert seamanship, and the US Navy deserves great credit for perfecting this technique to the point of routine. It has, of course, been extended to the air arm, and air-to-air refueling from tanker airplanes to fighters and others is also routine.</p>
<p>**REGULATION (adj) ** - There is an old expression, “The right way, the wrong way, and the Navy way!” Meaning that there are laws, customs, and requirements of a seagoing existence which make no sense (at least initially) to landlubbers. This is the origin of the Navy adjective “regulation”, as in “Get yourself a regulation haircut!” A synonym often used is “squared away”, meaning all in proper order. </p>
<p>**REST AND RECREATION (n) ** - Abbreviated “R and R”, this is a period of leave given to relieve the stress and fatigue of extended foreign duty or combat. *During W.W.II, a story circulated that a group of Navy combat veterans enjoying R and R in a fancy hotel in Honolulu were apprehended and charged with “conduct unbecoming an officer”. They had been detected running up and down the halls of said hotel, nude, in pursuit of certain nubile young ladies, also nude. After careful review of the details of the case, the charges were dropped, on the ground that they were ”properly attired, for the sport in which engaged”. *</p>
<p>**REVEILLE (n) ** - Wake-up time in the Navy. Aboard ship, it is announced by a blast from the boatswain’s whistle, and accompanied by a voice saying,”Reveille, Reveille (pronounced “revelee”), all hands on deck! Clean sweepdown, fore and aft! </p>
<p>**ROWBOAT (n) ** - A small craft propelled by oars. American practice differs from that of many other countries, in that the American rower sits on a thwart (a bench seat) and pulls on the oars to propel the boat backwards, while others stand in the boat and push on the oars to propel the boat forward.</p>
<p>**WARDROOM (n) ** - Officers’ mess. (dining room), which also serves for assemblies, instruction, as a dressing station in battle, etc. </p>
<p>**YEOMAN (n) ** - Naval rating designating ship’s clerk. Abbreviated YN.</p>
<p>SKIVVY WAVER (n) - Navy signalman skilled with semaphore flags.</p>
<p>1ST LIEUTENANT - Division found in most aviation and afloat commands that is responsible for the material condition and cleanliness of the ship or the spaces occupied by the Airedales. This usually means cleaning heads, swabbing decks, and running the geedunk. 1st LT DIV-O is usually dropped on the most junior officer in the command when he checks in. On surface ships, the 1st Lieutenant commands the deck division, made up of the boatswain’s mates, and is responsible for the boats and docking. </p>
<p>1MC - One of many communication circuits aboard a ship, this is probably the most widely recognized. When used, it is heard on every external speaker but is not always heard by every crew member, due to the fact that not all spaces have a functioning speaker. However, all crew members are expected to know what is said over the 1MC regardless of whether or not it was ‘audible.’ </p>
<p>A-GANG - The Auxiliary Division of the Engineering Department. Members known as “A-Gangers.” Also known as the only gang on the boat.</p>
<p>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 1 mm of hair, spotless uniform, etc.</p>
<p>BASKET LEAVE - Highly illegal free time off. When a sailor who takes leave has his leave chit destroyed after he’s returned, thereby not charging the liberty against his leave balance without the command’s knowledge. Personnelmen at a command who monitor leave are apt to use a favor such as basket leave in trade for favors from their shipmates. </p>
<p>BCG’s - Birth Control Glasses. Standard Navy-issue corrective eyewear. So named because they are so thick and hideous that you are guaranteed never to have sex while you are wearing them. The only option for vision correction during boot camp, because contacts are not allowed and other frame choices are not offered. Nearly impossible to break, although many recruits dedicate much time and effort towards that end. </p>
<p>B.O.H.I.C.A. - “Bend Over, Here It Comes Again.” </p>
<p>BOONDOGGLE - Any unorganized, inefficient evolution, usually grand in scale and involving many confused participants. Similar to a “goatrope.” Alternatively: Used in reference to any TAD/TDY trip that is “official” on paper, but is basically just an excuse for sailors (usually senior enlisted and officers) to get away from the command for a brief vacation from home to a desirable location (e.g. Pearl Harbor).</p>
<p>BUBBLEHEAD - A sailor in the Submarine Service. </p>
<p>BUDWEISER - A SEAL Special Warfare insignia. Consists of a pistol, trident, and eagle. </p>
<p>BUG JUICE - Kool-Aid-like beverage in dispensers on the messdeck. Side-by-side - Orange or Red. Before the turn of the century, bug juice was also used as a replacement for cleaning agents to clean decks. </p>
<p>BUTTER BARS - Refers to the gold-colored bars designating the rank of Ensign (the lowest rank for commissioned officers).</p>
<p>DCA - Damage Control Assistant, usually is a junior officer. </p>
<p>DIRTBAG - A lazy and almost useless sailor. Produces substandard work-usually creating extra work for his shipmates. Accompanied by a bad attitude and desire to leave service ASAP. </p>
<p>DITCH - To intentionally crash land an aircraft as “gently” as possible - usually into the water. This is generally done when fuel is almost all used up with no hope of making it to a safe landing area, or when a slowly developing but potentially fatal emergency is going on. </p>
<p>DOLPHINS - (Submarine Service) Submarine Qualification Device, called dolphins because of the dolphin fish used in the design. </p>
<p>ENSWINE - Derogatory term for an ensign.</p>
<p>SNAFU - Situation Normal, All Fouled Up.</p>
<p>FLEET UP - When a second in command takes his senior’s place upon that senior’s transfer, retirement, or other re-assignment. </p>
<p>FUBAR - Fouled Up Beyond All Recognition.</p>
<p>GIG LINE - The visual line formed by uniform zipper, belt buckle, and buttoned shirt seam. Also used as another in-joke to send new sailors on a wild goose chase.</p>
<p>GUNDECK - To juryrig something; falsifying or misrepresenting records and reports. The term originates from the days of sail, when ships would sometimes paint black squares along the hull to represent more gun ports than they actually had. </p>
<p>HACK - Unofficial punishment where an officer is confined to his stateroom, usually during a port call. </p>
<p>HANGAR QUEEN - An aircraft that is chronically down or “broke-dick.” These aircraft are often used for parts to keep the rest of the aircraft flying.</p>
<p>HEAD - Bathroom. The term comes from the days of sail, because wind would blow from the rear of the ship to the front. The bathroom would be located at the front, “Head”, of the ship to carry the foul smell of excrement away from the crew.</p>
<p>HOLLYWOOD SHOWER - A shower taken aboard a ship in a civilian manner, i.e. in which the water stays on throughout the shower, wasting much of it. Definitely frowned upon.</p>
<p>LDO - Limited Duty Officer - generally a senior and highly qualified enlisted person who is given a commission and continues to work in his or her field. (Also sometimes called "Loud, Dumb and Obnoxious.) </p>
<p>LIBERTY HOUND - A sailor who loves liberty more than anything else</p>
<p>LIFER - A deragatory term for both officers and enlisted men who love the navy and make it clear they want to be in for 20 or more years. Lifers will try to convince others to re-enlist. Also lifers say things like “there is nothing a sailor needs that is not in his sea-bag” this usually is a comment implying a sailor does not need to see his spouse or children.</p>
<p>MAKE A HOLE - Command to a group of people to separate to allow a senior ranking person to pass through. Especially common on submarines. Also ordered by shipboard brig prisoners escorted by a Master At Arms (MAA) personnel.</p>
<p>MIDNIGHT REQUISITION - To “borrow” (with varying degrees of consent) a needed item from another unit. Often condoned when essential to get underway.</p>