Language Barrier

One of the first things you become aware of when joining Her Majesty's Royal Navy, is the emergence of a new language.  Some of the words are known and used in Civvy street, some will be completely alien to the civilian population or the new recruit.  

As a new recruit it is beneficial to make a mental note of these new words and try to work out their meaning, if you couldn't find out their meaning this meant that you had to ask.  This route is fraught with danger, asking another matelot what a word means could have you being told a complete and utter load of gash (rubbish), thus finding yourself well and truly dumped in the Brown Admiral (sh1t).  

Most of theses words become apparent given time, like any language if you pay attention and listen you will pick it up.  On your fist day as a new recruit you will be told to muster, dhoby and shown where the heads are.  This is "Jack Speak", the language of the Royal Navy for collect or gather, wash (self or clothing) and the toilet.  These are just the basic ones or first day words, but as your length of service grows so will your vocabulary.  Then one day you find yourself unable to converse with friends or family back home because they have to interrupt you to ask you what you mean.  Even today's sailors have words that I'm not familiar with, electric dit or a fax machine is new to me, they weren't around when I was "in".  So like any language it develops over time, and each generation of sailors will have their own additions to pass to the next generations.  Just like every generation will have their own favourites, but there are some words that transcends the generations, words that over the years have become the favourite of all generations.  These are generally associated with things that pleasure Jack, a collection of which is below>

Banyan:
Nothing to do with the tree bearing the same name (as far as I know), but a party ashore usually outdoors on some tropical beach.  A favourite of Jack due to the large quantity of alcohol involved and the appearance of scantily clad ladies.  Unfortunately the ladies don't always make it.

Cheesy Hammy Eggy:

One of the delights to emerge from the Royal Naval Catering College at some point in history, loved by many many sailors/Wrens/Royals over the years.  It is essentially ham and cheese on toast with an egg on top, the nearest thing to haute cuisine you are likely to get in the galley.

Other culinary delights included:

Shit on a raft - Kidneys on toast

Babies heads - Steamed steak and kidney puddings

Nutty - Confectionary in all its various forms

Cackle Berries - Eggs

Sea Dust - Salt
Beetle Trap - Jam or Treacle

The list of culinary words is almost endless, but so are other lists.  Below are some of my personal favourites:

Agony Bags -Bagpipes
Bombhead - FAA Armourer (my former trade)
Clamp or Clampers - Thick fog with accompanying high winds often found at RNAS Culdrose
Drip - Complain or moan
Essence (sometimes ace) - very agreeable/nice sometimes used as a compliment "that dinner was essence"
Fast Black - Taxi
Grog - Rum issued to sailors until 1970, diluted 2 - 1 with water
Heart of Oak - Traditional Naval marching tune
Italian Tea Bags - Ravioli
Jimmy the One - First Lieutenant
KUA - Acronym for Kit Upkeep Allowance, payment made to allow repair or replacement of uniform
Lumpy Jumper - Any sweater worn by a female
Molar Mangler - Dentist
Nine O'clockers - SNack between Dinner and lights out, usually a cup of tea/coffee with a sticky bun
Oppo - Best friend
Phoo Phoo Dust - Talcum Powder
Rum (or beer) Bosun - Rating who draws the daily ration for the mess
Sippers - To share a drink with an oppo
Tilly - Minibus type vehicle
Uckers - Board game
Wedge Technician - Naval Airman of the aircraft handler branch
Yonks - Ages


There are many more around, some used frequently others not, but if you join up you'll soon find out.