Have you ever wondered about the origin of son of a gun, flotsam and jetsam, or hunky-dory? Youll find the nautical derivation of these expressions and more than 250 others in this collection of nautical metaphors and colloquialisms. In addition, this book includes thought-provoking and entertaining examples of these words drawn from literature, movies, and song, and contains sections of legends of the sea and weather lore. Fascinating reading for sailors and language enthusiasts alike.

Heres the scuttlebutt: Barge right in and swallow the anchor, and lets chew the fat and splice the main brace til were three sheets to the wind. Listen, you son of a sea cook, Im tired of minding my Ps and Qs. I tell you, Im all at sea, and this is the bitter end. Nothing I can do will keep this ship on an even keel. Hells bells! You think I didnt tell it to the old man? Delivered a broadside, I did, but he just called me a loose cannon. Maybe I caught him between wind and water. Listen, mate. Youd better bootleg a bible aboard. Were sailing under false colors, and where were headed its cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey. Its Davy Jones locker Im talking about. The crew was scraped from the bottom of the barrel. They dont know the ropes, and anyway theyre deserting like rats from a sinking ship. Its time to fish or cut bait, mate, or therell be the devil to pay. No use flogging a dead horse. Lets stay armed to the teeth and look for any port in a storm. Therell be nothing but flotsam and jetsam when this tub goes down the hatch.