Naval Terms and Phrases Trivia Quiz

Answer: Johnny

The XO is responsible for promulgating and executing the captain's orders.

Jimmy is a term used by the crew to refer to the XO. The XO is never directly addressed by this term.

Number One, despite what you've seen on an "Star Trek: TNG" is not used by the captain to address the XO. The term was traditionally used by members of the wardroom to refer to the XO.

XO is the most commonly used term to refer to, and address, the Executive Officer. There are, of course, less temperate terms as well.

Answer: Sundowner

The term sundowner is derived from strict captains that required all ship's officers and men return aboard by sunset. It is now used to refer to any strict disciplinarian.

A sheet anchor is large, heavy anchor used in an emergency.

A hawser is a cable or line. It is derived from the French "hausser" - to lift.

An idler is any crewman who is not subject to night watches.

Navy Fighter Squadron 111 (VF-111) was also known as the Sundowners. Fighter Squadron Composite 13 (VFC-13) changed its designation to VFC-111 in November 2006 and assumed the moniker Sundowners. Being aviators, this use of Sundowner definitely has nothing to do with strict discipline.

Answer: A period of duty between 1600 and 2000.

A watch period is four hours. The dog watch is split into two two-hour watches, the first and second dog watch, in order for the crew to rotate through all the watches instead of one team being forced to stand the mid-watch every night.

Answer: Reenlisted

It's a sailor's prerogative to complain about life at sea and to dream of the day he goes ashore, forswearing he'll ever go to sea again. But once the sea is in your veins, it's hard to leave. Eventually many return to that which they hate, and love.

Answer: The bottom of the sea

Formerly the evil spirit who supposed presided over all the seas' demons, the term has come to mean the bottom of the sea itself. Aye, it's true, sailors are a superstitious lot.

Answer: A ceremony that takes place when the captain awards non-judicial punishment for misconduct or official recognition for jobs well done.

Captain's Mast generally connotes non-judicial punishment while Meritorious Mast is used more commonly to signify positive recognition.

Answer: Whatever you want.

In the days of old, when a tailor boarded a sailing ship in port the crew knocked off early, broke out rope yarn and mended clothes and hammocks. At sea, one afternoon per week was reserved for mending. Since it was an afternoon for rest from the usual chores, much like Sunday, it was dubbed "rope yarn Sunday."

Over time, rope yarn has come to mean early liberty unless you're standing watch, that is.

Answer: The person in charge of repairing a ship.

In the course of a ship's life, she will have more than one husband but this has no bearing upon her true affections. Tradition has it, her love is saved solely for her sailors.

Answer: List of the ship's crew who are ill.

A binnacle is the stand on which the ship's compass was mounted. The binnacle list gets its name from the practice of posting the ship's sick list on the binnacle each morning for the captain.

Answer: Essential information.

The term gouge supposedly originated at the U.S. Naval Academy, but it is now used wide through out the U.S. Navy.

Midrats is leftovers served around midnight to those coming off the 2000-2400 watch and to those going on the 0000-0400 watch.