Bring in the Brass Monkey, Before its Balls are Frozen Off!
Feb 14, 2021 16:35:27 #
For salty sailors, and others, I wonder how many know what this phrase really means. No, it is not some dirty doggerel, but a legitimate expression.
During an earlier time, one of sailing ships and man of war vessels, the steel shot, or cannon balls were held in brass racks, one near each cannon. These brass racks were called “monkeys”. Since some ships were sailing either far north or far south, inside the Artic, or Ant Artic Circles, the waves breaking over the railing would cause the cannon balls to freeze to the Brass Monkey!
Also, one of the crew’s duties was to knock off all the rust from these cannon balls for their being exposed to constant salt spray so the balls would fit into the cannon’s bore.
Was that clear enough for you sailors? Just Sayin…RJS
During an earlier time, one of sailing ships and man of war vessels, the steel shot, or cannon balls were held in brass racks, one near each cannon. These brass racks were called “monkeys”. Since some ships were sailing either far north or far south, inside the Artic, or Ant Artic Circles, the waves breaking over the railing would cause the cannon balls to freeze to the Brass Monkey!
Also, one of the crew’s duties was to knock off all the rust from these cannon balls for their being exposed to constant salt spray so the balls would fit into the cannon’s bore.
Was that clear enough for you sailors? Just Sayin…RJS
Feb 14, 2021 17:35:10 #
Robert J Samples wrote:
For salty sailors, and others, I wonder how many k... (show quote)
It’s all in the word placement Robert. Just sayin.
Hack 🇺🇸🍺🍺
Feb 15, 2021 09:58:51 #
kandydisbar
Loc: West Orange, NJ
Robert J Samples wrote:
For salty sailors, and others, I wonder how many k... (show quote)
Yes, I'm reading "Master and Commander" Patrick O'Brian at present. The way he writes, you feel like you're on the water with them.
Feb 15, 2021 11:36:21 #
Robert J Samples wrote:
For salty sailors, and others, I wonder how many k... (show quote)
Hey Robert, just a friendly reminder.
Hack🇺🇸🍺🍺
Feb 15, 2021 12:48:55 #
hacksaw wrote:
Hey Robert, just a friendly reminder.
Hack🇺🇸🍺🍺
Hack🇺🇸🍺🍺
Wha-a-at ? WAIT ! Just what is she planning to do with that
kettle of hot water ? Trying to thaw it out that way could get his 'precious commodity' scalded !
YEEEOOW !
Feb 15, 2021 15:23:14 #
Odino
Loc: Rye NH
Also when it got too cold the coefficients of metal shrinkage were different and the balls would fall out. Hence the saying “It’s cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.”
Feb 15, 2021 19:15:04 #
kandydisbar wrote:
Yes, I'm reading "Master and Commander" Patrick O'Brian at present. The way he writes, you feel like you're on the water with them.
The brightest guy I ever knew read O'Brian's books with a very large dictionary next to him. This was before computers were commonplace.
Feb 16, 2021 09:00:01 #
kandydisbar
Loc: West Orange, NJ
USAF Major wrote:
The brightest guy I ever knew read O'Brian's books with a very large dictionary next to him. This was before computers were commonplace.
YES! Really helps in Scrabble!
Feb 16, 2021 20:00:46 #
kandydisbar wrote:
Yes, I'm reading "Master and Commander" Patrick O'Brian at present. The way he writes, you feel like you're on the water with them.
This is the best series I have ever read. All as absolutely as gripping and exciting as Lonesome Dove, except there are over 20 separate books by O'Brian. In fact O'Brian himself is an interesting story, he ws in the British OSS or some spy organizarion, when the war was over he told his wife goodby and disappeared. Only to surface as a writer. Google him and the books. I recommend them particularly duiring this period of quarantine. You havent really lived until you've read O'Brian! Just Sayin...RJS
Feb 16, 2021 20:05:16 #
kandydisbar wrote:
YES! Really helps in Scrabble!
Well, using a dictonary while playing Scabble, it should by what you know, not what you can find in a book. Just Sayin...RJS
Feb 17, 2021 09:13:28 #
kandydisbar
Loc: West Orange, NJ
Robert J Samples wrote:
Well, using a dictonary while playing Scabble, it should by what you know, not what you can find in a book. Just Sayin...RJS
I meant, I look up the words I do not know in Dictioanary while reading O'Brian. When I play Scrabble next, I hope I remember them!!
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