Military Terms/Marine Jargon

General housecleaning,usually held once a week often on Friday.On these
days all hands get busy. Even nook and corner is cleaned. All glass and
brightwork polished (blitzes).

Fourragiere

Military decoration,a double-loop of green and red braid worn on the
shoulder given for distinguished service in France in WWI to the 5th and
6th Marine Regiments.

Top

G

Galley

Shipboard kitchen;Kitchen of a messhall;mobile field mess.

Gangway

An opening in the rail giving access to the ship.A command announcement
stand aside to let someone through.

Gear

Personal belongings,also equipment or tools.

G.I.

Government Issue,To clean thoroughly,sharp appearance,real neat.
Also,a "G.I. Can" is a container to hold trash.

Good Duty

A popular duty station,a popular work assignment.

Grinder

Drill field.

Gung Ho

"Can Do!" (or,we can do it together!)

Top

H

Hatch

Door

Head

Bathroom or washroom.

Heavy Weather

A storm time."heavy weather ahead",to warn someone of danger or
trouble coming.

Hitch

Enlistment period

Top

I

Irish Pennant

String or thread hanging from a garment.

Top

J

Top

K

Top

L

Ladder

Stairway

Leave

Absence from duty on written authority or period than on a pass and
permitting one to go to distant points.

Liberty

Off-Duty.

Line Officer

One in command of regularly organized troops or a government base.

Lucky Bag

Lost-and-found bag.

Top

M

Marine Bible

Marine Guidebook-i.e. Young Marines Guidebook

Mess Hall

Dining Hall or Dining Room.

Morning Colors

Ceremony of raising the flag at sunrise.

Top

N

Navy Regs

Articles approved by Act of Congress and thus made into the
regulations governing the Navy.

Top

O

Overhead

Ceiling

Top

P

Pass

Written authority from proper official or NCO permitting one to leave
his or her duty post or station between certain hours or for a weekend.

Passageway

Door or Corridor

Pogey Bait

Candy,cookies.

Pipedown

Quiet!

Police

To straighten up or to tidy up.

Port

Left side (as you face the front).

P.T.

Physical Training

Top

Q

Top

R

Rack

Bed

Top

S

Scosh

In short supply-small.

Scuttlebutt

Gossip or water fountain.

Secure

To stop work. Knock it off. Stop

Semper Fidelis

Always Faithful

Ship Out

To change duty station. Recruits are "are shipped out" as soon
they are processed.

Ship Over

Re enlist.

Ship's Services

Commissary,theater,beauty shop,etc..on ship or at a post station where
service personnel can obtain goods or service at lower prices.

Shove Off

A command to a boat crew;used generally for "get lost"(as in,"get away
from here")

Sick Bay

Hospital or dispensary.

Skivvies

Underware

Skipper

Commanding Officer

Skylark

Goof-off;to loiter.

Smoking Lamp

Term carried over from days of sailing ships when used on shipboard.
Smoking Lamps were available to light pipes,when they were put out,
that was the end of smoking.

Squared Away

To straighten, make ship-shape,or get settled.To inform or admonish
someone in an abrupt manner.

Stand By

A preparatory command-means prepare to execute.As in "Stand by to repel
boarders"or "Stand by to receive visitors."All hands stay in immediate area
ready for the second part of command.

Starboard

Right Side

Station

Place of assigned work or your general duty area

Stern

The blunt end (rear)of a ship

Stow

To place in receptacle for storage;to pack

Stow

Room or place of storage;storeroom

Swab

A mop.