Mariners-L Archives

Archiver > Mariners > 2003-05 > 1052158771


From: "Brian Cave" <>
Subject: Re: [Mar] Heads
Date: Mon, 5 May 2003 19:19:31 +0100
References: <000001c312e9$dd594180$1ccd66c3@UKJLOVE>


Hi John,

According to that good old standby for Naval expressions - "Jackspeak: The
Pusser's Rum Guide to Royal Navy Slanguage""

"Heads. The ships latrines - originally a plank positioned over the leeward
bow wave in the ship's head. Strictly speaking, the term should be singular
rather than plural, but this convention is only observed 'across the pond.'
"

Brian
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Love" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, May 05, 2003 10:36 AM
Subject: [Mar] Heads


> I don't wish to extend this noxious thread too far but can anyone
> explain why the term "head" is used? Is it an abbreviation for
> something else?
>
> At first glance it seems obvious, I have found reference to the
> "head-chute" as a refuse disposal device, but as I examine it further
> then the "pointy- end" is not the primary location... or was it? Or am
> I reading too much into it? Maybe I should get out more!
>
> John LOVE near Old Sarum
>
>
> ==== Mariners Mailing List ====
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Mariners Archives http://searches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>

This thread: