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NavySpeak Trivia Quiz

The British Royal Navy has a language almost of its own - how much of it can you understand?

A multiple-choice quiz by Bazingstoke. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Bazingstoke

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
375,448

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
302

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. If a sailor in the Royal Navy asked if you would like some of his "nutty", what would you expect him to give you? Hint

A sandwich

Coal

Confectionery

Beer

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Question 2 of 10

2. If a sailor in the Royal Navy were to invite you to join him in a game of "uckers", what game would you be playing? Hint

Cards

Chess

Ludo

Deck hockey

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which of these Royal Naval ratings would be called a "killick"? Hint

Petty Officer

Warrant Officer

Able Seaman

Leading Seaman

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Question 4 of 10

4. Why did a sailor in the Royal Navy use to look forward, at lunchtime, to his "bubbly"? Hint

It was his daily ration of grog

It was a favourite custard-like dessert

It was a delicious dish of fried potatoes and cabbage

It was a pint of beer

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Question 5 of 10

5. In the Royal Navy, what type of food were "babies' heads"? Hint

Steak and kidney puddings

Poached eggs

Beans on toast

Meatballs

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Question 6 of 10

6. What, to a sailor in the Royal Navy, was a "split"? Hint

A firefighting team

A dogwatch

A female sailor

A chisel

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Question 7 of 10

7. Why would a sailor in the Royal Navy be pleased if he was awarded a "makers"? Hint

He would have the afternoon off

He would earn a long service badge

He would be given a campaign medal

He would be joing a brand new ship in the builder's yard

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Question 8 of 10

8. Who on board a Royal Navy ship is known as "Dhobey"? Hint

The Medical Assistant

The Padre

The Laundryman

The Chief Stoker

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Question 9 of 10

9. Where would you expect to see a Royal Naval frigate's "paraffin pigeon"? Hint

In the engine room

On the flight deck

In the galley

In the Chief''s mess

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Question 10 of 10

10. What do members of the Royal Navy do with "clacker"? Hint

Salute it

Shoot at it

Sail on it

Eat it

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Nov 19 2024 : Guest 46: 9/10
Nov 13 2024 : rainbowriver: 10/10

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. If a sailor in the Royal Navy asked if you would like some of his "nutty", what would you expect him to give you?

Answer: Confectionery

All kinds of confectionery, such as chocolate and sweets, are known as nutty, sold on board in the NAAFI canteen.

2. If a sailor in the Royal Navy were to invite you to join him in a game of "uckers", what game would you be playing?

Answer: Ludo

Uckers is the RN variant of ludo, but has its own rules and its own language, including words like blobs, mixy blobs and suckbacks. Most messdecks have their own huge uckers boards, and sawn-off and painted sections of broompole are used as pieces.

3. Which of these Royal Naval ratings would be called a "killick"?

Answer: Leading Seaman

All leading hands are called killicks, because killick is another name for a small anchor, and their badge of rank is a fouled anchor.

4. Why did a sailor in the Royal Navy use to look forward, at lunchtime, to his "bubbly"?

Answer: It was his daily ration of grog

Bubbly, until "Black Day" on 31 July 1970, when the ration was discontinued, was a junior rating's issue of one eighth of a pint of rum (at 95.5 proof) mixed with a quarter of a pint of water to make the daily ration of grog. It was called bubbly because when the rum and water were mixed in bulk in the rum tub the liquid foamed.

5. In the Royal Navy, what type of food were "babies' heads"?

Answer: Steak and kidney puddings

For many years all ships carried emergency rations of tinned food, amongst which was a particularly delicious steak and kidney pudding in a smooth suet pastry, which was supposed to look like a young baby's head. They were sadly discontinued in the 90s.

6. What, to a sailor in the Royal Navy, was a "split"?

Answer: A female sailor

Many sailors believed the nickname "split" for a Wren (until 1993, when the Women's Royal Naval Service was incorporated into the Royal Navy) had anatomical connotations, but it actually came from the fact that the uniform skirt worn by WRNS officers had a v-shaped notch in the hem at the back.

7. Why would a sailor in the Royal Navy be pleased if he was awarded a "makers"?

Answer: He would have the afternoon off

"Makers", short for make-and-mend, means being given the afternoon off. Originally a make-and-mend was given to sailors to give them time to clean and repair their kit.

8. Who on board a Royal Navy ship is known as "Dhobey"?

Answer: The Laundryman

From a Hindustani word, to "dhobey" means to launder and thus has become the name of the man who does the laundry on board the ship. In all large ships "Dhobey" is a civilian contractor, usually Hong Kong Chinese, who lives, eats and sleeps in the laundry compartment, charging the ship's company to do their laundry for them and sending most of his earnings home to his family in China.

In the bigger aircraft carriers there were also Chinese tailors - "Sew Sews", and cobblers - "Snobs".

9. Where would you expect to see a Royal Naval frigate's "paraffin pigeon"?

Answer: On the flight deck

"Paraffin pigeon" is just one of the nicknames for a helicopter, with others being "kerosene budgie", "wokka-wokka" and "rotating palm tree".

10. What do members of the Royal Navy do with "clacker"?

Answer: Eat it

"Clacker" is the old naval name for pastry, so naval cooks are called "clacker-mechanics". These days "clacker" is also a general term for members of the opposite sex.

Source: Author Bazingstoke

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor stedman before going online.
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