Salty Dog Talk: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions

Bill Beavis and Richard McCloskey's "Salty Dog Talk: The Nautical Origins of Everyday Expressions" is a short, entertaining but informative "dictionary" of everyday expressions with nautical origins. The roughly 200 terms and expressions can be grouped into three types: common words we all know have nautical origins (e.g., scuttlebutt, groggy); common words most of us don't know have nautical connections, often because they have obscure nautical origins (e.g., blazers, "black book," son of a gun, filibuster); and words with a nautical etymology (floating, hammocks, mayonnaise, rostrum, quarantine). Surprisingly, even though the authors give the etymology of many primarily nautical words, they do not include entries for "starboard" and "port/larboard." The entries are short, not sourced, and are often amusing and light-hearted (especially when the terms border on or have truly "salty" and crude variations). Although a bit over-priced, this book is good for what is tries to do and would be a welcome addition to any sailor's or amateur etymologist's/linguist's library, or for anyone else with any interest in these subjects.

Got it for my son, who has taken up sailing and loves it. He loves knowing the origin of so many phrases. The tone is lighthearted and fun, easy to read. I have to admit I've paged thru it myself a few times and found it enjoyable as well.