Military Words

In my opinion

Mairt explained what a ball hop was but you know it got me thinking about all the peculiar expressions that exist in the military. I love words what they mean where they came from etc.etc.

Now can somebody tell me about "going on your ticket" where did it come from. I know that it means finishing service retiring etc

In addition can we throw up other phrases and their history.

Thanks

ex_infantry man

dirt bird or muck bird corporals usually call this to a recruit who has,nt got his kit in order or is pure dirty,
i would think "goin on your ticket" would be because you have to pay your contract off to discharge yourself and it was usually by means of a postal order

minidazzler

Jilty - A nice word I often hear my BS use. I know it mean Smart, Uniform and Soldier-like manner. But does anyone have some history on it?

Fishtits

My understanding was that "Going on your ticket" refers to the bus/rail ticket you're entitled to that gets you home at the end of your service.

As for phrases... where do you start?

My platoon was blessed with the thickest NCO's in existence...

"In the spanner" = it was being dealt with ie in the works,

"ABC" "Always cover yourself" J OL you were legendary.

Pherekydes

Buckshee was my favourite, in every sense of the word.

It's British Army slang for second/extra helpings. It comes from the Persian word baksheesh, meaning a tip or gratuity. The Brits brought it back from the Middle East or India.

newby.204

Fishtits wrote: »

My understanding was that "Going on your ticket" refers to the bus/rail ticket you're entitled to that gets you home at the end of your service.

As for phrases... where do you start?

My platoon was blessed with the thickest NCO's in existence...

"In the spanner" = it was being dealt with ie in the works,

"ABC" "Always cover yourself" J OL you were legendary.

"abc nbc" means "always be covered never be caught"

In my opinion

A real Irish army word Mingy, derives its name from the Congo, where Irish military personnel served in the 1960's. The traders who set up their stalls near the camp were often asked if they had a particular item in stock. Their standard reply was "mingy, mingy" meaning "many" or "plenty

Zuiderzee

Dohbe dust = laundry powder, from the hindi dhobe, to wash.
On a merchant ship it has continued, dhobe boy = asst steward, the person responsible for ships linen

Again with a maritime theme - to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.
A monkey is a triangular plate, in olden times a triangular frame made of brass stored cannon balls.
Brass shrinks faster than iron, so when it is really cold, the brass frame shrank so much it would contract and pop out the iron cannon balls.

Let the cat out of the bag - when he cat'o'nine was removed from its red velvet bag, the midden was going to hit the windmill

You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours - Enlised crew inflicted punishment - hence you go easy on me this time - when its your turn I'll go easy on you

Son of a Gun, quite often sweethearts and doxies were hidden on the gun deck - where officers did not go, so there were births there - but illegitimate.

Swinging the lead = not doing much, ships chippie (carpenter) was the person who took soundings from the foc'sle - as the ship proceeded very slowly.

Pherekydes

Zuiderzee wrote: »

Swinging the lead = not doing much, ships chippie (carpenter) was the person who took soundings from the foc'sle - as the ship proceeded very slowly.

Swinging the lead had a totally different meaning for us (IAC). The lead-swinger was a device for shining newly polished floors. It consisted of a handle and a lead-weighted head which had a felted bottom. Under this you could put bits of old blankets. You simply slid the lead swinger back and forth across the newly polished floor, bringing it to a high shine. Having a lead-weighted head meant it was seriously heavy and therefore quite hard work.

Hard Larry

Zuiderzee wrote: »

Let the cat out of the bag - when he cat'o'nine was removed from its red velvet bag, the midden was going to hit the windmill

Son of a Gun, quite often sweethearts and doxies were hidden on the gun deck - where officers did not go, so there were births there - but illegitimate.

Thats mental. The versions I heard of these 2 are;

Let the cat out of the bag - was to do with traders/merchants selling piglets to soldiers but would replace the piglet with a cat. Hence when the game was up the cat was let out of the bag.

Son of a gun- I heard this came from Civil War America of soldiers who were shot in the testicles but still managed to father a child.

deiseff

I have know idea where they came from but

1) Your as usefull as tits on a macheral.

2) going for a 10degree down bubble= going for a nap

3) cluster ****

4) mind over matter, i dont mind and you dont matter

Hard Larry

deiseff wrote: »

I have know idea where they came from but

1) Your as usefull as tits on a macheral.

2) going for a 10degree down bubble= going for a nap

3) cluster ****

4) mind over matter, i dont mind and you dont matter

Number 2 is mortar terminology for lift and shift off the target afaik ie you're fire mission would be complete

Number 3 came from Heartbreak Ridge the Clint Eastwood Film where it came from before thaat i've no idea.

iceage

No 4 came from a smartarse NCO with a cracking sense of humour.;)

deiseff

No.2 is is as far as i know comes from the order for a submarine to dive. 10degree/20degree...........down bubble. Its a Naval saying

In my opinion

Old sweat is another word widely used in military circles. I am reading a copy of An Cosantoir from July 1941 and there is a lovely article called "Cha and all that". Its about the vocabulary of the army during the Emergency.

Lifted out of it - Verbal reproval (and how!) from superior officer.

Bawled off- DO

Liver - Bad Temper

Coming the hound- Excessive use of authority

Proper order - Quite correct as it should be

All edge- Very smart - conciously so

Hackle - the art of resting

In my opinion

What is or was a daisy bell march?

In my opinion

In my opinion wrote: »

What is or was a daisy bell march?

The answer is A cycle march.

Now thats a blast from the past when we had bikes.