Book Review: The Arming and Fitting of English Ships of War 1600-1815

[oyaguy]

I am a history major at university, and my interest in history was definitely stoked by naval literature. Horatio Hornblower when I was a teenager, Jack Aubrey and others authors as of late. So I guess it is unsurprising that I would read the non-fiction side of things.

In my various readings and perusing of bibliographies (okay, and Patrick O’

Comments

[theskooch]

I find it funny that you found it amazing that the profession of seamen couldn't come up with something better to call the "white stuff". But I enjoy taking things out of context, so it might just be me.

[andythesaint]

Bwahahahah... seamen

[mikey_iaco]

Stay classy.

[oyaguy]

Kedge. Marlin Spike. Billy Ruffian. Bowline. Fishing. Catting. Grog. Yawl. Cutter. Jolly Boat. Bowsprit. Spritsail. Sheets. Some nouns and verbs which I sincerely doubt most people today could actually tell me what they are.

This is the sailing warship from 1650-1815. These aren't like todays sailors who can be trained, deployed and discharged and pretty much blend right back into society within a handful of years. Back then becoming and being a sailor was a process which took years. The able seaman was literately a reservoir of nautical knowledge and skills. The exercising of those skills either through hand signals or language would essentially be meaningless to most people today, or even then.

So yeah, I am surprised they couldn't have thought of something better than "White stuff."