Navy slang
chit
A chit in the Navy refers to any piece of paper from a form to a pass and even currency (boot camp).
captains mast
A formal ceremony for those whom are accused of participating in criminal or unjust activities, usually resulting in various levels of punishment.
knee-knockers
A knee-knocker refers to the bottom portion of a watertight door's frame. They are notorious for causing shin injuries. Drunken sailors hate them.
yankee
American sea captains
bomb farm
Areas on the ship where aviation ordnance-men men store their bombs.
DAPA
Drug and alcohol programs adviser
gun decking
Filling out a log or form with imaginary data, usually done out of laziness or to satisfy an inspection.
bamboozle
In the maneuver known as a bamboozle, a word first used in the early 1700s, pirates would fly the flag of a friendly nation in order to deceive passing ships into letting their guard down. The enemy ship would then attack, thereby "bamboozling" its stunned opponent.
0'dark thirty
One half hour after 0'dark hundred
mast
Preceded by Captain's or Admiral's, but these are generally not spoken. A form of non-judicial punishment (NJP) in which a sailor finds himself standing tall in front of the old man when he really screws the pooch. Green felt is usually abundant
0'dark hundred
Referring to some point really early in the morning, like 0200
mid rats
Short for mid rations. The food line open from midnight to 6:00 a.m. that usually consists of leftovers and easy-to-make food like hamburgers, sandwich fixings, and weenies.
turco
The chemical used for washing airplanes.
roach coach
The snack or lunch truck that stops by the pier.
geedunk
The term sailors use for vending machine and junk food.
muster
The term sailors use interchangeably for meeting and roll call.
bubble head
The term sailors use to describe submariners.
crank
The term used to describe a mess-deck worker, typically a new transferee assigned to the mess decks while qualifying for regular watch.
gear adrift
The term used to describe items that are not properly stowed away. The shoes in this picture would be considered gear adrift. Also sometimes phrased as "gear adrift is a gift."
snipe
The term used to describe sailors that work below decks, usually those that are assigned to engineering rates, such as Machinists' Mates, Boiler-men, Engine-men, Hull Technicians, and more.
nuke it
The term used when a sailor is overthinking a simple task. Here's how the Navy publication All Hands describes the term: "The phrase is often used by sailors as a way to say stop over thinking things in the way a nuclear officer might. Don't dissect everything down to its nuts and bolts. Just stop thinking. But that's the thing; sailors who are part of the nuclear Navy can't stop. They have no choice but to nuke it."
cumshaw
The term used when obtaining something outside of official channels or payment, usually by trading or bartering. For example, sailors on a deployed ship got pizza in exchange for doing the laundry of the C-2 Greyhound crew that flew it in. Younger sailors may use the term "drug deal" instead of cumshaw.
rate
The use of the word "rank" for Navy enlisted personnel is incorrect. The term is "rate." The rating badge is a combination of rate (pay grade) and rating specialty.
air-dale
These are sailors assigned to the air wing — everyone from pilots down to the airplane maintenance crew.
pad eye
These are the hook points on a ship's surface used to tie down airplanes with chains.
devil to pay
This expression denoted the task of caulking the longest seam on a wooden ship, called the "devil." The caulking was referred to as "pay," so this unpleasant duty was called "paying the devil" and was despised by every seaman. The phrase came to denote any unpleasant job.
Cadillac
This is the term used to describe a mop bucket with wheels and a ringer. When sailors are assigned to cleaning duties, they prefer the luxurious Cadillac over the bucket.
chewing the fat
This tough cured beef, suitable only for long voyages when nothing else was cheap or would keep as well
kiddie cruise
Usually a minimum three day cruise for reservists
ABEAM
a relative bearing of 090 or 270 degrees
rating
a sailors job specialty
AOL
absent over leave
ARI
alcohol related incident
cup of joe
cup of coffee
navy blue
fleet uniforms
ABAFT
further aft, as in "abaft the beam"
Helo
helicopter
knowing the ropes
indicating that someone is competent at what they do, has its roots in old nautical talk. The statement, printed on a seaman's discharge, indicated that he knew the main uses of the ropes on a ship. Yet rather than indicating that the sailor was a master, the phrase meant that he was a novice who only knew the basics of sailing.
BRIG
jail
NJP
non-judicial punishment
ABOARD
on or in a ship or naval station
1MC
one of many communication circuits aboard a ship
RDC
recruit division commander
RTC
recruit training commander
carry on
resume work
ASMO
set a recruit back in training due to poor performance
head
the bathroom
scuttlebutt
the term for a water fountain
Mind you P's and Q's
to behave your best
three sheets to the wind
to describe someone who has had too much to drink
wallop
to strike a major blow against an enemy or to hit incredibly hard
took wind out of their or someones sail
to win in an argument
bravo zulu
well done
crows nest
where the look-out held watch
