Word of the day...

[PHXPhlyer]

G-Man:
Added to my list of ebooks at the library, as well as The Search For The Dice Man.

PP

[Pontius Navigator]

Mention of lascars in the Corona Virus thread also brought back memories, memories of serang and tindal too.

It was a wonder to behold watching the lascars and stevedores unloading cargo using derricks rather than cranes.

[1DC]

serang... bosun, tindal... bosun's mate, succunny...quartermaster, cassab... store keeper, topaz... sweeper or cleaner usually an untouchable who got the blame for everything. lascar ... seaman

In my early days at sea with Indian crew you would have about fifty on deck and the same in the engine room but not like that any more. At first they didn't get paid overtime and could be worked as long as the Mate wanted to work them. I remember when overtime came in and they would be eligible for 1 Indian rupee per hour overtime after more than twelve hours work in any day. A letter came from head office reminding us that overtime had to be avoided to save costs. There were 16 rupees to the pound at the time. They generally got Sundays off but it wasn't a given.

[Pontius Navigator]

1DC, except in my father's case, he would save fuel and arrive Monday as Sunday's at sea was an extra day's leave or double pay.
The ship was always scheduled for cleaning and painting in India. He would have all the upper works painted, often down to the waterline, which halved the time in drydock.
The owners were pleased as it was back in service sooner. The dry dock super was pleased as he got the dock back sooner.
The cash saving was split 50-50. The crew half was split 50-50. After the skipper took 50% the rest was split 50-50, as you say, the lascars oh a rupee.

[Smeagol]

Muckender- A handkerchief, table napkin or bib.

[bob2s]

Bowyang https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bowyangs

[Hydromet]

Many years ago there was a comic strip in the newspaper, which featured a farmer called Ben Bowyang. He wore these accoutrements.

I have my father's old dictionary, dated 1931. In the front, he wrote down words that he came across, which weren't in it. I'll offer up one of them..."Flong".

In relief printing, a flong is a temporary negative mould made of a forme of set type, in order to cast a metal stereotype (or "stereo") which can be used in a rotary press, or in letterpress printing after the type has been broken down for re-use.

[Rossian]

In the NE of Scotland these devices were known as "nickytams" and were usually binder twine tied just below the knee of the trousers. Just checked and they can also be a narrow strap with buckles. They are also the subject of a Scots song extolling the virtues of the said items in preventing wasps from crawling up the trouser legs

The Ancient Mariner

[Pontius Navigator]

Rossian, I was told it was rats

[TheGreenGoblin]

lappie - a cleaning cloth, which I am using to try and clean my PC keyboard, which has become a bit of a biohazard!

[Rossian]

Could well have been that too PN, especially when feeding a threshing machine from a stack. Getting towards the bottom ofthe stack there were always dozens of the buggers and the dogs would go berserk.

The Ancient Mariner

[jimtherev]

Slart (v) To act so as to cause a soup-stain on the front of one's shirt.
Not that one is too prone to this of course, but for some reason Mrs Jim has developed a tendency to dribble food from spoon or fork, and now tucks napkin into collar.

(This has nothing to do with her other tendency: to foam at the mouth. Quite unconnected)

[Opsboi]

Sesquipedalian

As if

[EA01]

Oh, love it Opsboi!

[Pontius Navigator]

Not a rat fortunately but a rabbit. By an old barn was an outside store room and filled with nettles, out popped a rabbit and our terrier leapt on it and thought she had killed it. To her annoyance it ran back into the nettles. Was she pissed off. Straight back in and dragged it out. A quick shake and her supper was ready for the pot.

[TheGreenGoblin]

rhapsodomite - One addicted to Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody (not to be found in any dictionary but great for causing rows over scrabble and cocoa) and not to be confused with rhapsodomancy which is an ancient form of divination performed by choosing through some method a specific passage or poem from which to ascertain information!

[G-CPTN]

Does the sod derive from rhapsody or is it associated with the behaviour of the singer?

[Pontius Navigator]

therapize
/ˈθɛrəpʌɪz/
verb
past tense: therapised; past participle: therapised
subject to psychological therapy.
"you certainly don't need to therapize or fix each other"

[TheGreenGoblin]

Farouche - sullen or shy in company.

[Opsboi]

Languid

I hardly need define it...