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Quiz about Naval Terms and Phrases
Quiz about Naval Terms and Phrases

Naval Terms and Phrases Trivia Quiz


Are you a landlubber or and old salt? Come aboard and test your knowledge of how sailors speak.

A multiple-choice quiz by cryppie. Estimated time: 5 mins.
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Author
cryppie
Time
5 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
282,505
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
5 / 10
Plays
1258
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 76 (7/10), Guest 104 (3/10), Guest 24 (4/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. The position of ship's Executive Officer is by far the most onerous, difficult and thankless job aboard ship. Which of the following is NOT a name by which the Executive Officer is referred? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Strict discipline is the order of the day aboard a smart ship. Which of the following is a term to refer to a strict disciplinarian? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. What is a dog watch? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Petty Officer Jones just "shipped over." What has he done? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. What, or where, is Davy Jones' Locker? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. What is a Captain's Mast? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. The skipper just declared "rope yarn!" Now what should you do? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Who or what is the ship's husband? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. What is the binnacle list? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. What is gouge? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Mar 25 2024 : Guest 76: 7/10
Feb 28 2024 : Guest 104: 3/10
Feb 22 2024 : Guest 24: 4/10
Jan 30 2024 : Guest 104: 6/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. The position of ship's Executive Officer is by far the most onerous, difficult and thankless job aboard ship. Which of the following is NOT a name by which the Executive Officer is referred?

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.
2. Strict discipline is the order of the day aboard a smart ship. Which of the following is a term to refer to a strict disciplinarian?

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.
3. What is a dog watch?

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.
4. Petty Officer Jones just "shipped over." What has he done?

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.
5. What, or where, is Davy Jones' Locker?

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.
6. What is a Captain's Mast?

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.
7. The skipper just declared "rope yarn!" Now what should you do?

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.
8. Who or what is the ship's husband?

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.
9. What is the binnacle list?

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.
10. What is gouge?

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.
Source: Author cryppie

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