Description

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Mind your p's and q's came from taverns keeping tabs on sailors' drinks (pints and quarts) until pay day.
Bootlegger derived from smugglers hiding valuable packages in their huge sea-boots.
Keep your shirt on dates back to the Vikings, who furiously tore off their shirts and fought half-naked.
Big wigs, slang for those in high positions, originated from the fact that British naval officers wore huge wigs.

Discover the true meaning of the pirates' skull and crossbones flag, why a ship's lookout station is called the crow's nest, and the origins of such terms as logbook, quarantine, and shove off. Hundreds of bite-size, illustrated facts from around the world and throughout history offer fascinating insights into nautical traditions of the ancient Greeks and Norsemen as well as latter-day sailors from the United States, Great Britain, and Europe.
Illustrator and author Cedric W. Windas (1888-1966) was a columnist for the World War II-era magazine Our Navy. His tidbits of sea lore and language, accompanied by striking images, explore all aspects of sailing and shipping terms and customs. Active members of the Navy and veterans, as well as anyone with an interest in sailing or maritime history, will delight in these fascinating facts, which are equally appealing for in-depth perusal or casual browsing.

About the Author

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Illustrator and author Cedric W. Windas (1888-1966) was a columnist for Our Navy magazine whose articles were collected and published as Traditions of the Navy in 1942. He created illustrations for adventure and western periodicals but specialized in images of ships and seafaring themes. A number of his maritime paintings are among the Smithsonian's holdings, and a selection of his drawings and memorabilia constitute the Cedric Wilford Windas Collection at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum.