HMForces.co.uk

Joining Up >> Browse Articles >> Military and Naval Acronyms

A Navy Wife’s Guide to Jack Speak

As a navy wife my husband comes home some nights and it seems like he is speaking a different language, you may have noticed it too. But don’t worry this language is called jack speak so here is a naval wife’s guide to everything you need to know.

A

AB- Able Seaman

Accommodation ladder- A name for any stairway leading from one deck to another inside a ship

Across the pond- In America

Action Messing- The process of feeding the ship’s company very quickly

Action Stations- The highest state of readiness in a warship ordered when action with enemy is imminent

Adrift- Late for work or duty

Afternoon Watch- The period between midday and 4pm

Aladdin’s cave- Any over-stocked compartment full of stores

All- singing, all- dancing- A sarcastic comment for any piece of kit that is claimed to solve some previously impossible problem

AMP- Assisted Maintenance Period

Anchor Watch- A special watch kept while at anchor during a storm to detect dragging

Ark- HMS ARK ROYAL

Ashore- Anywhere that is not on board ship

AWOL- Absent without leave

B

Babies’ heads- Tinned, individual steak and kidney puddings

Badgeman- Any rating with one or more good conduct badges

Bag meals- Snack meals provided for personnel on temporary detached duty

Ballast- Material used to maintain the trim or stability of a ship

Balls- out- With maximum despatch or as fast as possible

Balls- up- An error of quite significant proportions

Bang on/ banging on- Boring everyone to death about some subject very dear to the speaker’s heart

Banyan- Tropical picnic held ashore by a ship’s company while deployed at sea

Beer bosun- The messdeck rating responsible for maintaining the beer locker

Big eats- A large or special meal

Bilges- The lowest part of the ship where a foul and noxious mixture of sea water, waste water and oil fuel are collected

Billet- Appointment or position within a ship or unit

Bish- Padre or chaplain

Bite- To wind someone up

Black catter- A person who always tries to go one better

Black maskers- sticky masking tape of great durability and adhesive properties

Blower- Telephone

Blue card man- Someone who doesn’t do duty

Bluenose- A ship that has operated inside the Arctic Circle

Bluey- Free airmail letter used in operational areas

Bog standard- Description of something that is basic issue item

Bombed out- Bizarre

Bone-

1) Study a subject with particular interest

2) Unintelligent or not very smart

Bootneck/ bootie- A royal marine

Bosun’s call- A high pitched two note metal whistle used for making pipes

BOST- Basic Operational Sea Training

Both watches- Muster of all the hands at the start of a working day

Branch- Generic term for the various specialisations in the Royal Navy

Brass monkeys- Cold

Bravo zulu- Well done

Breaking strain of a warm mars bar- Description of an individual with little or no willpower when it comes to resisting temptation

Breasts and springs- Traditional way of securing a vessel alongside

Brew- Tea or coffee

Bronzing- Sunbathing

Brow- Gangway used to link a ship to shore

Brummie- Nickname for anyone from Birmingham

Brylcreem boys- The RAF

Brush the salt off his shoulders! – A remark directed at someone telling exaggerated sea stories

BS- Bullshi*

Bubbleheads- Ships divers

Buck the system- Try to do things in an unorthodox or unofficial way

Buckshee- Free

Buff up- Clean and polish something

Buffer- Nickname for the Chief Bosun mate

Bulkhead- A name for a wall

Bum steer- Bad or incorrect advice

Bum’s rush- A bad deal

Buoy Jumper- Seaman detailed to connect the bridle to the mooring buoy

Burble- Ramble on in speech

Burning and turning- A helicopter with its engines running and rotors engaged

Bust/ busted- Demoted

Buster- Code word for full speed

Buttons- Worn on the sleeve cuff of a Chief Petty Officer

Buzz- A rumour

By and large- Meaning broadly speaking

By the book- Regulations

---