# Technical Terms with Intersting Orgins **URL:** \ **Category:** Marine Engineering\ **Created:** [May 15, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092 "2018-05-15T19:13:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/1 "2018-05-15T19:13:17Z")
Studying about improved high lift safety valves I come across a new word which I like very much: Dirling (as in dirling action, a description of how the valve should operate). Also spelled ‘dyrlyng’. An old Scottish word for a thrilling sensation or vibrating motion. Used to describe the feeling of being in love. Any more technical terms with interesting origins? ---
**Author:** ![Hornblower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@Hornblower](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hornblower)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 7:18pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/2 "2018-05-15T19:18:00Z")
Spurlash. The noise the anchor makes when it hits the water. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 7:19pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/3 "2018-05-15T19:19:36Z")
> [@Hornblower](#): > > Sorry. Don’t be sorry, unless you don’t know the sound it makes when it comes back up. Then you aught to be. ---
**Author:** ![Steamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Steamer](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Steamer)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/4 "2018-05-15T21:44:24Z")
> [@Emrobu](#): > > Any more technical terms with interesting origins? I’m surprised you didn’t include the “huddling” chamber. Snifter valve … the sound it makes when functioning. Grasshopper. The connecting rod of particular style of beam engine. Peckerhead … the wiring junction box on a motor or generator … comes from an old term “pickerhead” part of a fruit picking basket among other applications. ---
**Author:** ![tomahawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@tomahawk](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tomahawk)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2018, 4:15am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/5 "2018-05-16T04:15:00Z")
So much of our language comes from seafaring. ---
**Author:** ![Hornblower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@Hornblower](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hornblower)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2018, 9:36pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/6 "2018-05-16T21:36:59Z")
POSH - Port Out, Stbd Home. ---
**Author:** ![dbeierl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/dbeierl/32/11833_2.png) [@dbeierl](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/dbeierl)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2018, 9:58pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/7 "2018-05-16T21:58:05Z")
I think that’s been debunked. > **[posh | Origin and meaning of posh by Online Etymology Dictionary](https://www.etymonline.com/word/posh)** > > Meaning: "Mariner's Mirror," Jan. 1971; also see here. The acronym story dates from 1955. More likely from slang posh "a dandy"… See more definitions. > **[INGENIOUS TRIFLING](https://www.etymonline.com/columns/post/baloney)** > > Always demand proof, proof is the elementary courtesy that is anyone’s due. > —Paul Valéry, "Monsieur Teste" ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 12:48am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/8 "2018-05-17T00:48:39Z")
> [@dbeierl](#): > > I think that’s been debunked. But backronyms are great. Learned one today. ETOPS: Engines Turning or Passengers Swimming. ---
**Author:** ![dbeierl](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/dbeierl/32/11833_2.png) [@dbeierl](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/dbeierl)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 2:52am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/9 "2018-05-17T02:52:14Z")
Hahaha! ---
**Author:** ![tomahawk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5daacb/32.png) [@tomahawk](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/tomahawk)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 6:09am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/10 "2018-05-17T06:09:43Z")
This lot is a good mardle. (Old word from East Anglia meaning to waste time) [http://see-the-sea.org/nautical/naut-body.htm](http://see-the-sea.org/nautical/naut-body.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Steamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Steamer](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Steamer)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2018, 11:16am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/11 "2018-05-17T11:16:08Z")
Average ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 2:12am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/12 "2018-07-14T02:12:38Z")
Found while thumbing through a book before I say goodbye to it: Galley Wireless: Gossip Glory Hole: The steward’s cabin on a liner or the fireman’s on a coal fired steamer. what, actually?? Sometimes I feel so naive. Tab Nab: cake or bun served with afternoon tea. Tanker: a vessel designed to carry liquid cargoes in bulk. There are oil tankers, spirit tankers, molasses tankers, wine tankers, milk tankers, and water tankers. Milk tankers… its a fine line between a milk tanker and a cheese tanker I reckon. eew. Where do I sign up for the wine tankers? ---
**Author:** ![DamnYankee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/damnyankee/32/514_2.png) [@DamnYankee](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DamnYankee)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 2:57am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/13 "2018-07-14T02:57:01Z")
> [@Emrobu](#): > > Where do I sign up for the wine tankers? And forego the spirit tanker? You call yourself a sailor? 😵 ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 3:30am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/14 "2018-07-14T03:30:22Z")
> [@DamnYankee](#): > > And forego the spirit tanker? You call yourself a sailor? 😵 I know… but I was just worried that a spirit tanker might turn out to be methanol. I don’t want to be made a sucker. ---
**Author:** ![DamnYankee](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/damnyankee/32/514_2.png) [@DamnYankee](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/DamnYankee)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 3:36am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/15 "2018-07-14T03:36:43Z")
Or go blind. I guess I’m just a romantic and picture alternating tanks of Glenmorangie and Pappy Van Winkle. ---
**Author:** ![Emrobu](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/emrobu/32/6696_2.png) [@Emrobu](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Emrobu)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 4:00am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/16 "2018-07-14T04:00:31Z")
I think scotch might be bad luck cargo: too many misguided people think it should be on the rocks. We can have a scotch tanker, but never on the rocks. I think it was the SS Politician in the 40s that proves my point. ---
**Author:** ![Kennebec\_Captain](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/kennebec_captain/32/13_2.png) [@Kennebec\_Captain](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Kennebec_Captain)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 5:04am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/17 "2018-07-14T05:04:20Z")
“Dynamiting whisky. You wouldn’t think there’d be men in the world so crazy as that!” ---
**Author:** ![ombugge](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/ombugge/32/11217_2.png) [@ombugge](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/ombugge)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2018, 11:38am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/18 "2018-07-14T11:38:11Z")
Here is another impromptu salvage operation. This time in Australia: ![6140_1021974888858_1809804125_48207_2698269_n](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/2X/c/c2ac6713b14930f86f51298e9afb76f6d983c21c.jpg) Some locals from Townsville “liberated” part of the cargo from the “Slidre Timur” after she run onto Parker Reef in Febr. 1971: Here is some pictures of her taken at the time: ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/2X/2/21f283ef77548fe9cb519ae2e289f7056aa922bc.jpg) More of this story here: [https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/showthread.php?t=25669](https://www.shipsnostalgia.com/showthread.php?t=25669) PS\> I was Chief Officer on this vessel in 1969-70 and left her in Port Moresby a few months before this grounding. ---
**Author:** ![Hornblower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecccb3/32.png) [@Hornblower](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Hornblower)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2018, 6:02pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/19 "2018-07-15T18:02:41Z")
Don’t forget the beer tankers. ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/2X/f/f20f0ba0d1a234da0d65826d08f9ccd3afd071c2.JPG) ---
**Author:** ![Seago](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/seago/32/209_2.png) [@Seago](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Seago)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2018, 7:06pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092/20 "2018-07-15T19:06:17Z")
I remember 20’ tank containers on deck, marked with the Johnny Walker Red logo, when I was on the SL-7, the _Sealand Resource_ in 1980. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/gcaptain_maritime_forum/original/2X/d/df8586112643ece75d4b5a4e3c57d5fdddf23d48.jpg) [Next page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/technical-terms-with-intersting-orgins/48092.md?page=2)