HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea -- How Naval History Helped Shape the English Language

By MARK S. LONGO

From politics to intoxication, naval terminology has filtered into every area of modern discourse. The nautical roots of such common phrases as “clear the deck,” “took the wind out of my sails” and “when my ship comes in” are obvious. However, the impact of naval life runs far deeper than a few salty terms.

The English language overflows with words and phrases that were derived from naval history. The common phrase “turn a blind eye” is a perfect example. This expression originated with a legendary figure from naval warfare. Adm. Horatio Nelson was wounded numerous times during his storied career. These injuries resulted in the amputation of one arm and the loss of sight in one eye. During the Battle of Copenhagen, Nelson was ordered to break off his pre-emptive attack on the Danish fleet. However, Nelson was not the kind of man to run from a fight. Instead, he put a telescope up to his blind eye and announced that he couldn’t see the order to withdraw. Nelson continued with his attack and won a decisive victory. Thus the phrase was born.

What follows is a few other well-known phrases and their surprising nautical derivations:

· “All sewn up” —When a sailor died at sea, his body usually was wrapped in an old sail canvas. The canvas was then stitched up from head to toe. The final stitch was run through the sailor’s nose, just to make sure that he was really dead. When the body was “all sewn up” inside the canvas, it was tossed over the side of the ship. The modern usage of this term is to signify an event or task that is about to be completed.

· “The devil to pay” — This term sounds like the modern corruption of a biblical phrase or Shakespearean passage. Surprisingly, it is neither. The phrase originated during the days of the great wooden sailing ships. In order to prevent leaks during a voyage, the seams between the ship’s planks had to be sealed with hot tar. This process was referred to as “paying.” The most difficult and dangerous seam to “pay” was referred to as “the devil seam.” A sailor who had “the devil to pay” was responsible for caulking the devil seam.

· The actual location of this seam is disputed. Some sources say that it ran along the edge of the deck near the railing. Others say it was below the waterline and connected the keel to the rest of the planking. Regardless of its location, paying the devil seam was an unwelcome task. Today, if you have “the devil to pay,” you have to face a difficult task or decision that might have unpleasant consequences.

· “Between the devil and the deep blue sea” — Sailors who had “the devil to pay” often worked close to the side of the ship. A sudden swell or gust of wind could easily knock them overboard. They would then find themselves literally between the devil seam and the deep blue sea. Thus, this term has come to refer to a situation where a person is caught between two difficult or dangerous obstacles.

· “Deliver a broadside” — The modern meaning of “deliver a broadside” is to deliver a crippling blow during an argument. However, during the Age of Sail, this term had a far deadlier connotation. Naval battles were often decided through superior maneuver. Opposing ships would struggle to position themselves so that one side of the vessel was fully facing the enemy. The ships could then “deliver a broadside,” or a simultaneous firing of all of the cannons on one side of the ship. A few of these crippling blows would usually be enough to decide the outcome of the battle.

· “To the bitter end” — This term has several nautical derivations. The vertical posts used to secure ropes onboard ships are called bitts. When the end of a rope or cable is tied around two bitts, it is referred to as a “bitter end.” When an anchor rope is unwound “to the bitter end,” there is no more chain left to unwind. The term “bitter end” also refers to a knot at the end of a piece of rope that was used to flog sailors. Today, the phrase “to the bitter end” is used to signify someone’s stubborn adherence to an opinion or course of action without regard to the consequences.

· “By and large” — A sailing vessel was considered seaworthy if it could sail both “by” (into the wind) and “large” (with the wind). This term has come to mean “approximately” in modern parlance.

Note: Sea Power will publish parts two and three of this article in upcoming issues.

Mark S. Longo is a Chicago-based writer specializing in military history.