An Ocean of Words
A Dictionary of Nautical Words and Phrases
Description:... In this authoritative and entertaining work, Peter D. Jeans has written the story of seafaring men and their influence on the English language.From hardy Nantucket whalers to the Elizabethan sea dogs who defended their nation from the Spanish Armada, from the grizzled fishermen of Nova Scotia to the crews of the great clipper ships, the men who made their living on the sea left as part of their legacy a remarkable contribution to the English language."To bale out", "the coast is clear", "to turn a blind eye", "son of a gun", "scuttlebutt", and "to make waves" are just a few of the nautical terms that have become a part of our everyday language.An Ocean of Words tells the story of how nautical language has evolved into common usage. While providing definitions and word origins, the book is also anecdotal, recounting tales of such seafaring men as Sir Francis Drake, Captain Cook, and John Paul Jones. Much more than a dictionary, this work paints a vivid picture of the seaman's daily life in the age of sail and honors the rich cultural heritage of our seafaring tradition.An astonishing variety of words, sayings, and idiomatic expressions are explained in alphabetically organized entries. Four extensive appendixes trace related terms, and an annotated bibliography guides the reader to key source materials. Anyone interested in the history of the English language or the history of the sea will find this book informative, intriguing, and very entertaining.
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