Chris-Craft 2015 21 Carina Owner's Manual page 188

Glossary Of Boating Terminology
Scuttlebutt
The cask of drinking water on ships was called a scuttlebutt and since Sailors exchanged gossip when
they gathered at the scuttlebutt for a drink of water, scuttlebutt became U.S. Navy slang for gossip or
rumors. A butt was a wooden cask which held water or other liquids; to scuttle is to drill a hole, as for
tapping a cask.
Shows his true colors
Early warships often carried flags from many nations on board in order to elude or deceive the enemy.
The rules of civilized warfare called for all ships to hoist their true national ensigns before firing a shot.
Someone who finally "shows his true colors" is acting like a man-of-war which hailed another ship flying
one flag, but then hoisted their own when they got in firing range.
Side Boys
Tending the side with side boys, as we know it in modern practice, originated long time ago. It was cus-
tomary in the days of sail to hold conferences on the flagships both when at sea and in open roadstead;
also, officers were invited to dinner on other ships while at sea, weather permitting. Sometimes the sea
was such that visitors were hoisted aboard in boatswain's chairs. Members of the crew did the hoisting,
and it is from the aid they rendered in tending the side that the custom originated of having a certain
number of men always in attendance. Some have reported the higher the rank, the heavier the individ-
ual; therefore, more side boys.
Smoking lamp
The exact date and origin of the smoking lamp has been lost. However, it probably came into use during
the 16th Century when seamen began smoking on board vessels. The smoking lamp was a safety
measure. It was devised mainly to keep the fire hazard away from highly combustible woodwork and
gunpowder. Most navies established regulations restricting smoking to certain areas. Usually, the lamp
was located in the forecastle or the area directly surrounding the galley indicting that smoking was per-
mitted in this area. Even after the invention of matches in the 1830s, the lamp was an item of conven-
ience to the smoker. When particularly hazardous operations or work required that smoking be curtailed,
the unlighted lamp relayed the message. "The smoking lamp is lighted" or "the smoking lamp is out'
were the expressions indicating that smoking was permitted or forbidden.
The smoking lamp has survived only as a figure of speech. When the officer of the deck says "the smok-
ing lamp is out" before drills, refueling or taking ammunition, that is the Navy's way of saying "cease
smoking."
Sonar
Sound Navigation Ranging. An acronym for underwater echo-ranging equipment, originally for detecting
submarines by small warships.
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