Breverton's Nautical Curiosities Quotes

“FAIRWAY The origin of this golfing term was the word for the channel of a narrow bay, river or haven through which ships usually navigate up or down.”
― Terry Breverton, Breverton's Nautical Curiosities: A Book of the Sea

“DEEP SIX This is water deeper than the six fathoms (36 ft/11 m) that the traditional leadline can measure. When the sailor taking soundings called out ‘By the deep: six!’ the captain knew there was plenty of water under the keel. The phrase also means to throw overboard or discard, when there is more than six fathoms of depth. One might say, ‘Just because your watch was slow, you did not have to give it the deep six.’ The custom was also to ensure that any dead body was only committed to the sea if the water was six fathoms deep or more. Thus to ‘deep six’ someone means to dispose of him or her.”
― Terry Breverton, Breverton's Nautical Curiosities: A Book of the Sea

“POSH Before air-conditioning, cabins on the side of ocean liners facing the sun became unbearably hot. Thus richer passengers paid a premium to have their tickets on the P&O Line from England to India stamped “Port Out—Starboard Home.” So p.o.s.h. became a synonym for someone who was upper class. PULL”
― Terry Breverton, Breverton's Nautical Curiosities: A Book of the Sea

“DOWN A PEG (OR TWO) Humbled. An admiral flew his personal standard at the highest point of the mast, attached by rope to one of a series of pegs at its base. If a more senior admiral came aboard, the original standard would be taken down a peg or two to make room for the new flag. DRESSING”
― Terry Breverton, Breverton's Nautical Curiosities: A Book of the Sea